The Rwandan government approved an energy-storage system that will provide 2.68 MW of energy to an irrigation project, according to The New Times. The equipment will be supplied by German company Tesvolt and will energize water pumps for irrigating crops. Authorities aim to mitigate stress on the national grid and secure food stability for struggling Rwandans.
A major strategy to reduce poverty in sub-Saharan Africa is through modernisation of agricultural production. The “Green Revolution” policies being implemented promote modern seed varieties and inputs to boost production of marketable crops. This is meant to raise farmers’ incomes, develop their countries’ economies and, by doing so, combat hunger and poverty.
President Paul Kagame seeks a third term in office after parliament approved an amendment to the constitution, according to Al Jazeera. Kagame has built a reputation as a reformer, but critics cite his authoritarian style of governance and human rights abuses as reasons he should leave office.
According to voting results, over 98 percent of Rwandans approved a measure allowing Kagame to remain in power after his official term ends in 2017. The changes in the constitution would allow the president to remain in power until 2034.
Mineral minister Evode Imena urges the United States to remove his country from a list of conflict-mineral nations, citing the fact the Rwanda has not been involved in a conflict since 1994, according to International Business Times. Imena and others argue that the East African nation’s status on the list undermines trade and hampers economic progress. Since the 1994 massacre that took over 800,000 lives, Rwanda has flourished as a hotbed for international investment.
On Wednesday, the World Bank released an Economic Update on Rwanda. The World Bank’s projection show economic growth of 7.4 percent for 2015 and 7.6 percent for 2016. Similarly, it anticipates a drop in the nation’s high poverty rates from 63 percent in 2011 to 54 percent by 2016. That would equate to one million people moved out of poverty over the last several years.
When one thinks of Rwanda, a war torn country full of impoverished people with no notable economy of any kind probably first leaps to mind. However, in reality, Rwanda has become one of the fastest growing economies in East Africa. In 2014, it posted a growth in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of 7 percent. This year’s predictions put growth at 6.5 percent for 2015 and 2016.
Rwanda’s economy grew from 4.6 percent to 7.0 percent in the fourth quarter. Headway in farming, the service industry and the industrial sector underpinned growth. The country’s central bank expects 6.7 percent growth for 2015.
Rwanda is a lower income economies comes under the Sub Saharan African region, as to the classification made by the world bank on the basis of income and region for the year 2006.
Agriculture is an important sector in the country’s economy, which accounts for 90% of employment and near to 50% of GDP.
MAYANGE, Rwanda — The maternity ward in the Mayange district health center is nothing fancy.
It has no running water, and the delivery room is little more than a pair of padded benches with stirrups.
But the blue paint on the walls is fairly fresh, and the labor room beds have mosquito nets.
Inside, three generations of the Yankulije family are relaxing on one bed: Rachel, 53, her daughter Chantal Mujawimana, 22, and Chantal’s baby boy, too recently arrived in this world to have a name yet.
Rwanda is a poor rural country and of all countries in Africa, it is the most densely populated. Because of few natural resources, and minimal industry opportunities, people struggle. While this country’s economy was already weak, in 1994 genocide added to the pressures of impoverishment, specifically the female population. Because of this, private and external investments were nearly impossible to attract.
