Farmers across Rwanda are being urged to finish preparing their fields while waiting for sufficient rainfall to begin planting for the 2027A agricultural season.
The season is expected to cover more than 700,000 hectares of farmland, with farmers expected to make full use of land set aside for cultivation.
The Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB) says farmers should not delay preparations simply because rainfall has been slow to arrive in some parts of the country.
In many areas, preparations are already at an advanced stage, while some farmers have begun planting after receiving the first rains. However, rainfall has remained limited in other parts of the country, leaving some farmers concerned that they could miss the appropriate planting period.
RAB Acting Director General Dr Florence Uwamahoro said farmers should use the waiting period to complete preparations so they can plant as soon as conditions become favourable.
“Farmers should not be worried. We encourage them to continue preparing their fields, and we appreciate the progress they have already made. Where preparations are not yet complete, they should continue so that once the rains reach different parts of the country, farmers can immediately put seeds in the ground,” she said.
Uwamahoro also sought to reassure farmers that the delayed rains do not necessarily mean they have missed the planting window.
“This is not the first time this has happened. Planting can still take place until around mid-October, around the 15th, so we cannot say that we are already late,” she said.
The uneven distribution of rainfall has also been noted by Meteo Rwanda. Although some areas received rain in September, the amounts varied significantly from one location to another.
Dr Twahirwa, who is responsible for weather forecasting and its operations at Meteo Rwanda, told RBA that rainfall records show that some areas have already received substantial amounts of rain, while others are still waiting for adequate precipitation.
“Some measurements show that certain areas have already received close to 140 millimetres of rain. Rain has been recorded across the country, but it has not been distributed evenly or at the expected levels everywhere,” he said.
He urged farmers not to become overly concerned, saying the rainfall outlook is expected to improve in the coming months.
“We are seeing rainfall increasing gradually, which means farmers should not be overly concerned. October, November and December are generally months with significant rainfall, so they should use this time to prepare properly,” he said.
The main crops expected to be grown during the 2027A season include maize, beans, Irish potatoes, sweet potatoes, cassava, wheat, bananas, vegetables and fruits.
RAB is encouraging farmers to complete land preparation, secure the necessary inputs and remain ready to plant. This will allow them to take advantage of the rains as soon as they arrive, rather than losing valuable time on basic preparations.
