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CATALIST Rwanda

In Rwanda, CATALIST continued to provide support to the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Forestry (MINAGRI). MINAGRI's Crop Intensification Project (CIP) offers the best opportunity for outscaling. Support is focused in three areas – the auction and voucher system, dealer network development and participatory test demonstrations.

Field School Success

Participatory field tests have turned into field schools. A good example is in Musanze where 3,856 producers, 41 students and 26 primary school pupils visited CATALIST plots during 2009 Season A. During the report period, the Rwanda Agricultural Development Agency (RADA) adopted the CATALIST approach largely due to these test fields and the success stories told by beneficiaries. An MOU among RADA, Agricultural Extension Support System Project (PASNVA) and CATALIST was signed; CATALIST agreed to train RADA technicians in ISFM.

The goal of the training was to support RADA in conducting participatory tests for assessing fertilizer performance and improving fertilizer recommendations in 13 of Rwanda’s 30 districts during 2009 Season B. The request for support was also motivated by the important role farm groups played in the success of CATALIST participatory tests. RADA sought to integrate the farm group approach in its participatory tests. Seventy percent of the RADA agronomists for all sectors were trained (292 out of the 416 agronomists).

Plans call for each agronomist to support and advise at least four producers in establishing participatory tests. If the plan is successful, an additional 1,168 producers beyond CATALIST project participants will adopt the ISFM approach for agricultural intensification.

In the context of the same MOU, CATALIST assisted RADA in the transportation of agro-inputs to the demonstration sites. In total, 52 mt of agro-inputs, including seeds, were distributed. Fertilizers distributed included NPK, urea and DAP, and seeds included potato, beans, soya, maize, rice and wheat.

In addition, in collaboration with PASAB/CARITAS, 46 people identified as leader farmers/producers and agronomists were trained in ISFM. Tangible results (increased yields and profits) are encouraging other producers and organizations to adopt the technologies promoted by CATALIST. For example, the additional profits realized by producers in Musanze were used to pay children’s school fees, purchase new plots of land (14 producers), and open bank accounts for the first time (38).

All demonstration sites were chosen by local farmers and authorities to be included in the Udusozi-Ndatwa government program. During meetings attended by more than 5,000 people (including the Prime Minister and other authorities), eight CATALIST partners testified about the positive results they obtained when they used fertilizers and other technologies promoted by CATALIST. At the meeting, the authorities urged the rest of the population to imitate the CATALIST partners and, to date, 371 producers have purchased seeds from CATALIST field tests to begin the process of adopting CATALIST technologies. In Gicumbi, results obtained by CATALIST farm groups have resulted in 70 additional producers and three associations adopting the approach.

CATALIST and Fertilizer Voucher Support

CATALIST continues to support the CIP by providing advice on implementation of the fertilizer auction and voucher program. When increased fertilizer costs threatened the CIP in 2008, CATALIST worked with MINAGRI to implement:

  • fertilizer procurement procedures to improve efficiency;
  • fertilizer auctions for private dealers, cooperatives and farmer associations; and
  • targeted fertilizer and seed voucher programs for wheat and maize producers.

The fertilizer auction program addresses Rwanda’s desire to build a strong private sector agro-input distribution system by involving the private sector in the purchase, sale and national distribution of government-procured fertilizer inputs. The targeted voucher program (implemented through farmer cooperatives and NGOs) introduced farmers to improved technology packages that increase their awareness of the role mineral fertilizers and improved seeds play in increasing food crop production. While both programs provide a short- to medium-term solution to increase crop production, they also provide the foundation for long-term sustainable food security and private sector development.

From June to October 2008, CATALIST assisted MINAGRI in renegotiating the agro-input prices with the supplier (MEA), thereby generating significant savings for the government; CATALIST’s assistance also promoted timely delivery and auctioning of approximately 7,500 mt of fertilizers to private sector dealers, importers and traders. Of this tonnage, about 5,500 mt of urea and diammonium phosphate (DAP) fertilizers were distributed through the voucher program to fertilize 65,000 ha of maize and wheat at an average application rate of 21.5 kg/ha. Assuming an average farm size of 0.75 ha, more than 80,000 farmers (many first-time users) now had access to mineral fertilizers. Adding mineral fertilizer to these farmers’ management practices is conservatively estimated to increase yields by 17,200 mt of additional cereals, or enough to provide sufficient annual nourishment for more than 70,000 additional people.

In preparation for 2009 Season B, CATALIST accompanied RADA in the preparation of two auction sale sessions. Nine private enterprises were involved in the December 2008 auction sale of 1,565 mt of NPK 17-17-17 and 484 mt of urea.

The initial implementation of the program for 2009 Season A has been evaluated by MINAGRI and CATALIST, and the results have been presented to key actors. Identified weaknesses have been used to develop a manual with auction and voucher guidelines for the different actors.

A Need for Stronger Distribution Networks

One weakness that hindered the full implementation of the voucher program concerns the lack of an effective agro-input distribution system. Several of the winning bidders who purchased fertilizer at the auction did not have a viable distribution system even though one criterion for participating in the auction was identification of national dealers.

In reality, the number of agro-input dealers in Rwanda is limited. This lack of a distribution network put the private sector traders at a disadvantage compared with the farmer/producer cooperatives that successfully purchased fertilizers at the auctions. Due to the lack of a distribution network and need for capacity building, MINAGRI requested that CATALIST develop a dealer training program with a goal of having at least one agro-input dealer per sector. With support from MINAGRI, IFDC developed a proposal that was submitted to Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA). The objective of the proposal is to create a strong private sector agro-input dealer network that, with time, will assume the role of procuring and distributing fertilizers throughout Rwanda. In the meantime, CATALIST has implemented training for dealers’ trainers.