The Ingabo Farmers’ Association (IFA) reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening Rwanda’s agriculture sector through its active participation in the Board Meeting of the Agriculture and Livestock Chamber of the Private Sector Federation (PSF), held on 15 July 2026 at Grand Legacy Hotel in Kigali.

The meeting brought together leaders of associations operating across various agricultural value chains, including crop production, livestock, agro-processing, domestic trade, and export-oriented agribusinesses. It was chaired by Mr. Christian Irakoze, President of the PSF Agriculture and Livestock Chamber, and attended by Mr. Tuyambaze Dieudonné, who oversees the Chamber’s day-to-day operations, as well as Mr. Didace, the PSF Advocacy Officer.

As one of the key members of the Private Sector Federation, the Ingabo Farmers’ Association was represented during the recent General Assembly elections by its Vice President, Mr. Peter Habimana. The board meeting marked the first gathering of the newly elected leadership and provided an opportunity for members to strengthen collaboration and discuss priorities for the future of Rwanda’s agriculture sector.

The meeting focused on reviewing achievements made during the first six months of 2026 and outlining the Chamber’s strategic priorities for the remainder of the year. Participants also exchanged views on key challenges affecting the agriculture and livestock sectors, particularly limited access to finance and investment, coordination among actors across agricultural value chains, and institutional constraints faced by member associations.

Discussions highlighted several governance-related issues, including the lack of office space for some associations, delays in obtaining legal status, expired mandates of leadership committees, underperforming governing structures, low participation of major private companies, and delays in membership contributions.

To address these challenges, the Board adopted several resolutions aimed at strengthening the Chamber and its members. These include supporting associations to obtain legal status before September 2026, engaging relevant institutions to resolve governance issues affecting federations, organizing field visits to member organizations, and providing office facilities to newly established associations.

Participants also agreed to continue advocating for the establishment of an animal feed processing plant and to revive previous efforts to establish a specialized agricultural bank to improve farmers’ access to financial services. In addition, members were encouraged to participate in planned study tours to Algeria and Brazil to gain insights into international best practices in agricultural development.

Another key outcome of the meeting was the decision to establish a comprehensive membership database to enhance advocacy efforts and strengthen coordination within the Chamber. Members emphasized the importance of transforming the Agriculture and Livestock Chamber into a solution-oriented platform capable of addressing the challenges facing the sector and promoting sustainable growth.

For the Ingabo Farmers’ Association, membership in the Private Sector Federation continues to provide valuable opportunities, including access to strategic information, stronger representation within Rwanda’s agricultural private sector, and improved organizational governance.

Moving forward, Ingabo Farmers’ Association remains committed to building a strong and vibrant membership base while promoting market-oriented agriculture and value chain development. Through its active engagement in PSF structures, the association will continue to contribute to the transformation and competitiveness of Rwanda’s agriculture sector.

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