Rwanda’s agricultural calendar is divided into three seasons: Season A (September-February), Season B (March-May), and Season C (June-September).

The survey highlights significant growth in various crops: cassava production increased by 6%, reaching 783,290 tons; rice rose by 4%, totaling 72,834 tons; sweet potatoes saw an 8% increase to 666,814 tons; and bananas grew by 5% to reach 1,142,552 tons.

Maize output increased by 1% to 119,101 tons, and beans saw a 6% increase despite a 1% decrease in the area planted with beans.

Potato production, however, decreased by 13%, largely due to a reduction in planted area and unfavorable weather conditions in major potato-growing regions.

The land area planted with potatoes dropped from 48,210 hectares in 2023 to 41,836 hectares in 2024, leading to a reduction in output from 326,677 tons to 285,596 tons.

Yields per hectare remained stable, with smallholder farmers averaging 6.8 tons per hectare and large-scale farmers averaging 14.9 tons per hectare. Of the total potato production, 55.4% was sold, 26.7% consumed by farmers, and 12.8% reserved for seed.

Several factors contributed to the overall increase in agricultural output, including the widespread use of fertilizers, with over 80.1% of farmers applying organic fertilizers.

Improved seed varieties were also key, utilized by 72.6% of large-scale and 16.6% of small-scale farmers, particularly enhancing maize and bean production.

Additionally, 30.2% of farmers applied pesticides, and a significant majority (89.2%) engaged in soil erosion prevention practices. Irrigation also saw increased adoption, with 12.1% of farmers implementing various irrigation methods.

The NISR report emphasizes that the 3.1% increase in agricultural production marks a positive trend for Rwanda’s agricultural sector.

The report also notes that Rwanda’s total land area is 2.376 million hectares, with 1.350 million hectares (57%) dedicated to agriculture.

Maize also contributed to increased agricultural output in Season B.