Paddy rice also registered an 8 percent increase in both Seasons A and B. The country achieved this without necessarily expanding its farmland, but rather through the smart use of agricultural inputs like improved seeds, fertilisers and irrigation.
While these are impressive gains, a recent visit I made to Yunnan Shijing Agriculture Technology Co., Ltd. in China left me convinced that Rwanda's agricultural transformation is only just beginning and that far greater profits and productivity lie ahead if the country embraces full-scale technological integration.
Shijing Agriculture, located in Mengla Town and launched in 2023, is a subsidiary of the global PC hardware leader Qicaihong Group. The company has invested 110 million yuan into a state-of-the-art corn and sweet potato project that today processes 40 tons of corn daily and generates up to 64 million yuan annually in output value.
With only 54 workers operating its nearly fully automated processing line, the company still creates significant employment for surrounding communities in planting and harvesting stages. Over 90 percent of its managers are locals with bachelor's degrees or higher, reflecting an intentional effort to professionalise and modernise the agriculture value chain.
What sets Shijing Agriculture apart is how it places farmers at the heart of its business model. Through a structured partnership involving village collectives, agricultural cooperatives, and contract farming, the company provides free seedlings, organises planting, and guarantees purchases at fair prices.
The result is a stable income for farmers and reliable produce for the company to process and sell. Its distribution network stretches across China's biggest urban markets, including Beijing and Shanghai, and extends internationally to the Middle East and the United Kingdom.
Technology is deeply embedded in every step. Farmers use a patented mobile application connected to mini weather stations and soil sensors that monitor temperature, humidity, and nutrient levels in real-time. At a glance, a farmer can adjust watering or fertiliser levels to suit the specific conditions of their field.
The company has also adopted blockchain technology to track every stage of production. From planting to harvest to retail, a QR code on each product gives consumers full traceability, reinforcing trust and enabling premium pricing. They call it a 'trust machine,' and it's working.
What struck me even more was how this model closed the loop between crop and livestock farming. Waste from corn production is processed into silage for beef cattle. Manure from the cattle is, in turn, converted into high-quality bio-fertiliser, which nourishes the next season's crops. The result is a sustainable cycle that cuts costs, minimises waste, and increases productivity.
Back in Rwanda, we are already seeing the early effects of smarter farming. In 2024, 90.6 percent of farmers implemented anti-erosion measures in Season A, and irrigation adoption surged from 7.5 percent in Season A to 58.2 percent in Season C. The use of improved seeds reached 39.7 percent, while 89.1 percent of farmers used organic fertilisers and 64.5 percent turned to inorganic options.
These inputs helped boost yields despite reductions in land area for certain crops. For example, Irish potatoes saw a 3 percent drop in cultivated land but still achieved a 1 percent increase in production, reaching 460,830 metric tons. Sweet potatoes followed a similar trend, with a 10 percent drop in area offset by a 4 percent increase in output, totaling 692,945 metric tons.
Now, with Dronlytics Africa having its regional headquarters in Rwanda, the country is positioning itself as a continental leader in agricultural innovation. Dronlytics brings advanced drone and AI technology designed to reduce production costs and enhance yields through precise data collection.
Their US-patented drone technologyâ€"likened to NASA's Perseverance roverâ€"will help farmers monitor soil health, detect pest threats, and minimise chemical use through targeted application. This data-driven approach is expected to increase cash flows and contribute significantly to food security and environmental protection.
If Rwanda can combine its strong agricultural policy framework with the kind of smart, scalable, and farmer-centred technology I saw in China, the impact could be transformative. With the right partnerships and investments, we could see yields increase not by 30 percent, but double or triple in high-potential crops.
Christian Mugisha
Source : https://en.igihe.com/opinion/article/tech-s-potential-to-transform-rwandan-farmlands-into-gold-mines
