RWANDA – Rwanda is advancing the use of machine learning and satellite imagery to monitor crops, improve resource efficiency, and enhance the profitability of farming, according to Mark Cyubahiro Bagabe, Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources.
Speaking during the 2025 International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Annual Meeting held in Kigali, Bagabe outlined Rwanda’s vision for a data-driven agricultural transformation during a session titled “Cultivating Change: Youth, Tech, and the Future of Agriculture.”
The initiative reflects the country’s shift toward precision agriculture, a system that applies advanced technologies to collect, analyze, and act on field data in real time.
Monitoring farms from space
Bagabe explained that the country is adopting satellite imaging and machine learning algorithms to replace labor-intensive field data collection traditionally used by the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda.
“Today, we are moving forward using machine learning and satellite imaging, where we are able to estimate crop area, monitor crop growth conditions, and predict yield using technology,” Bagabe said in an interview following the session.
The system, he noted, will begin with maize, Irish potatoes, and rice this farming season. While some crops, such as beans, remain difficult to track due to intercropping patterns, other staples, including cassava, are next in line for satellite-based monitoring.
Through remote sensing, authorities will be able to estimate crop acreage, identify stress conditions, and anticipate yields faster and more accurately than manual sampling methods allow.
Shifting toward commercial, tech-driven farming
Bagabe said Rwanda’s agriculture is evolving from smallholder subsistence to commercial, technology-driven systems.
He emphasized that modern agriculture is becoming more efficient and attractive to young people precisely because of its integration with digital tools.
He described the country’s agricultural strategy as climate-smart, agri-food-centric, and technology-led, focusing on productivity, profitability, and sustainability.
“You cannot make it a business unless you standardize,” Bagabe explained.
“That is why, for example, in irrigation, I can sit here and ensure my system provides water exactly as needed by crops, whether in an open field or a greenhouse. That’s precision. That’s standardization.”
The Minister added that standardization, guided by international benchmarks from organizations like ISO, is helping agriculture become more measurable and efficient through sensor-based systems that supply real-time data for accurate decision-making.
Precision tools on Rwandan farms
Precision agriculture uses technologies such as GPS, drones, soil sensors, satellite imagery, and data analytics to track and respond to changes in crops, animals, and the environment. By analyzing these data, farmers can apply fertilizers, pesticides, and water only where needed, reducing costs and protecting ecosystems.
In Rwanda, such tools are already in use. Bagabe cited automated irrigation systems that deliver water based on real-time plant needs.
“Water is a finite resource,” he said.
“Automation ensures efficiency by providing only what the crop requires, reducing labor costs and improving profitability.”
The Ministry targets to expand irrigated land from more than 70,000 hectares to 130,000 hectares by 2029, part of its plan to build a resilient and sustainable agri-food system.
Greenhouse farming, which allows automated control of temperature, humidity, irrigation, and nutrients, is another fast-growing area.
Young entrepreneurs are increasingly investing in this model due to its scalability and reliance on data analytics.
Youth at the center of agricultural innovation
The Minister emphasized that technology adoption is key to attracting young people to farming.
“Technology has come to make agriculture much easier for us, and therefore we are not going to see ourselves going backward,” he said.
Drones and sensor technologies are already being used to monitor crop health and detect early signs of disease. Some youth-led agribusinesses in Rwanda have begun exporting drone-based agricultural services to neighboring countries.
At the same session, Cynthia Umutoniwabo, Chief Executive Officer of Loopa, a Kigali-based firm that transforms organic waste into fertilizer, encouraged young innovators to focus on practical, need-based solutions.
“When you’re building solutions, think of who you want to serve,” she told participants.
“Build solutions that address real challenges. When you do that, your business model naturally aligns with your clients’ needs.”
Umutoniwabo said her company’s model addresses farmers’ productivity gaps by providing affordable, sustainable fertilizers made from locally available waste streams.