• Rwanda targets $335.4 million in private capital to strengthen climate resilience in agriculture

• The plan aims to support 170,200 farmers and 375 businesses through sustainable financing

• Investment focus includes irrigation, soil health, livestock, and post-harvest loss reduction

In Rwanda, as in many Sub-Saharan African countries, agriculture remains largely dependent on rainfall. This reliance leaves small-scale farmers—who contribute about 70% of national agricultural output—vulnerable to climate shocks such as drought.

To address this challenge, the Rwandan government is seeking to mobilize more private capital to accelerate the adoption of climate-smart agriculture. On Wednesday, June 18, the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources, in partnership with the Rwanda Green Fund and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), launched a Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) Investment Plan.

The plan outlines private investment opportunities in projects aimed at increasing food production, promoting job creation, and improving agricultural sustainability. It sets a target of about 449.7 billion Rwandan francs ($335.4 million) in private investment.

The government intends to make 83,250 hectares of land more resilient and productive through efficient water management, the use of high-yield crop varieties, and soil improvement practices. It also plans to connect around 170,200 farmers and 375 businesses to climate-smart agriculture financing via bankable projects that support sustainable partnerships.

According to the release, the plan predicts that two-thirds of the targeted investments will concern water supply and irrigation. Other priorities include post-harvest loss reduction, resilient livestock development, and soil health improvement. The effort comes at a critical time, as irrigation remains underdeveloped in the country despite its significant potential.

Official data shows that Rwanda has considerable but underutilized irrigation capacity across 589,711 hectares. Of the nearly 1.62 million hectares of agricultural land recorded in 2022, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates that less than 1% was equipped for irrigation that year.