Members of Parliament have raised concerns over the continued reduction in Rwanda’s agriculture budget, warning that the cuts could undermine economic growth and affect millions of citizens who depend on farming for their livelihoods.
The concerns emerged on Monday, May 11, 2026, as Finance and Economic Planning Minister Yusuf Murangwa presented the draft 2026/2027 national budget and medium-term expenditure framework before Parliament.
Lawmakers questioned why allocations to agriculture are expected to decline for three consecutive years despite the sector remaining one of the country’s biggest economic drivers and a major source of employment.
Figures presented to Parliament show that the agriculture budget is projected to fall by more than Rwf100 billion, decreasing from $352 million to $243 million before slightly rising to $255 million in the following fiscal year.
MPs argued that reducing funding to the sector could slow efforts to boost agricultural productivity and strengthen food security.
Responding to the concerns, Minister Murangwa said the decline in budget allocation would not negatively affect agricultural performance or the wider economy, explaining that several large-scale projects are nearing completion while new investments continue to be integrated into the sector.
“Sometimes the budget may decrease while activities continue to increase. Some major agriculture projects are being completed, and once they are finalized, new projects are progressively added into the programme,” Murangwa told lawmakers.
Under the proposed 2026/2027 budget, the government plans to prioritize timely distribution of fertilizers and improved seeds, while expanding seed multiplication programmes for key crops including maize, soybeans, wheat, potatoes, rice, cassava and beans.
The government also plans to increase irrigated farmland and construct additional post-harvest storage facilities aimed at reducing crop losses linked to inadequate infrastructure.
Rwanda’s proposed budget for the 2026/2027 fiscal year stands at Rwf7.796 trillion, an increase of Rwf844.2 billion from the revised Rwf6.952 trillion budget for 2025/2026.
Domestic revenues are projected to reach Rwf5.273 trillion, including Rwf4.429 trillion expected from taxes and Rwf582.4 billion from non-tax revenues.
Foreign grants are expected to total Rwf548.3 billion, while external borrowing is projected at Rwf1.974 trillion.
Of the total budget, Rwf4.779 trillion will finance recurrent expenditure, while Rwf3.017 trillion is earmarked for development projects and public investment initiatives.
