World Food Day 2010 Rwanda: Minister endorses RIU-backed warrantage scheme
2 November 2010

The RIU supported maize warrantage scheme was at the centre of celebrations to mark the 2010 World Food Day in Rwanda.

In addition to an event held in Nyagatare District, Eastern Province, Rwanda, national and community TV and radio ensured the whole country was aware of the work of RIU.

Banners of some participants in the exhibition on warrantage organised by RIU to celebrate the 2010 World Food day in Rwanda

World Food Day was taken very seriously this year in Rwanda. The event was postponed by a few days to 21 October, as on the actual day President Paul Kagame and the Minister of Agriculture, Dr Agnes Kalibata, were in Rome attending an event at the Headquarters of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

The Rwandan Cabinet decided that this year's activities would focus on Nyagatare District, which is where the RIU Rwanda supported Maize Innovation Platform is based.

At a gathering of farmers from Mirama and Nyagatare, the Minister recommended boosting maize productivity by using fertilizer and quality seeds. Talking about marketing, Dr Kalibata urged farmers to be part of the RIU-backed warrantage scheme; she asked RIU and its partners on warrantage to organize further visits to the warrantage site in order to share lessons with many more farmers.

Earlier in the day Dr Kalibata had been guest of honour for a fact finding mission to RIU Rwanda-backed maize programmes. Opening proceedings Eugene Rwibasira, Executive Secretary of the Rwanda Development Organisation and a key RIU partner, highlighted the government's commitment to maize intensification. He picked out three projects supported by RIU Rwanda that are transforming the maize value chain in Nyagatare District:

• the Maize Innovation Platform which is bringing together different stakeholders to identify and address problems
• the creation of the Nyagatare Maize Investment Group (NYAMIG) by platform members to protect interests of farmers in the maize market
• the warrantage scheme pilot which enables farmers to access fair prices, bank loans and avoid exploitation

Augustin Mutijima, the RIU Rwanda Country Coordinator, said:

"We prepared a small exhibition and visits to show how we had introduced warrantage in Rwanda.

We also gave the distinguished guests an insight into the rest of RIU's work. We explained how we are building capacity through the platform and that this makes introducing innovation much easier.

RIU Rwanda is increasing access to information about research products through investment in community radio, farmer field schools and community facilitation. The facilitation means that not only can we find the bottlenecks - we can also find good solutions too.

Warrantage was just such a response. Poor farmers who started increasing yields thanks to the government's fertilizer subsidy programme and better access to knowledge and networking through the Maize Platform suffered from poor prices and got so little in return for their efforts. By sorting out rogue traders we have now secured a fair return for farmers so they can invest in their futures through improved farm inputs."

The Minister told delegates visiting the warrantage site that she was very impressed by the approach that RIU had developed to support the maize value chain .She asked many questions about stakeholders and their role in the process.

Augustin continued:

"After the visit to meet the warrantage stakeholders and beneficiaries, the Minister expressed her joy and satisfaction about the scheme and the impact it is already having in Nyagatare District.

Dr Kalibata is very keen on quality control and she wants the platform to look at building farmers capacity to reduce post-harvest losses. The Minister also encouraged RIU to continue experimenting with ways to ensure maize farmers can access fertilizer, especially as their incomes increase through warrantage."

RIU Director Ian Maudlin said:

"The World Food Day event shows that the excellent work of the RIU Rwanda team is getting the recognition it deserves in Rwanda. They have found creative solutions, like warrantage, which remove bottlenecks and support farmers. By eliminating exploitative traders both farmers and consumers have emerged as winners."

Note

The Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources Dr Agnes Kalibata was accompanied on her visit to the RIU programme by a strong delegation comprising two parliamentarians; the Mayor and Vice-Mayors of Nyagatare District; the FAO Representative, the Deputy Representative of the World Food Programme; the Representative of UNAIDS and senior officials from USAID and IFAD. There were also a hundred of other delegates from UN agencies, agencies affiliated to the Ministry of Agriculture, projects, private sector and civil society.

Photos warrantage- World Food Day

Delegates at World Food Day waiting for the Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources

The executive secretary of the Rwanda Development Organisation, Mr. Eugene Rwibasira welcoming Minister Agnes Kalibata

RIU Rwanda Country Coordinator, Mr. Augustin Mutijimi explaining RIU approach/activities to Minister Agnes Kalibata and other delegates

Chairman of NYAMIG, Mr. Eric Ntukabumwe presenting key of steps of warrantage scheme in Nyagatare District.

Minister Agnes Kalibata discussing with delegates on warrantage

Minister Agnes Kalibata visiting the stand oif Duterimebre IMF, the banking partner of RIU in warrantage.

Minister Agnes Kalibata interacting with Mr. Stanislas Mutabaruka, one of the beneficiaries of warrantage present at the event

Minister Agnes Kalibata inspecting maize storage

Type of storage system used in warrantage (cocoon hermetic silo)

Type of storage system used in warrantage (warehouse)