Kigali, 31 March 2025 

The Rwanda Defence Force Senior Command and Staff College (RDF SCSC) Nyakinama has started the National Study Tour (NST) 2025 running from 31 March to 4 April 2025, under the theme “Agricultural Transformation Policy towards Achieving Sustainable Security and Development.” The tour began with a policy-level briefing at the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI), where the Hon. Minister, Dr. Mark Cyubahiro Bagabe, provided an overview of the national strategy.

The NST is a key component of the Rwanda Defence Force Command and Staff College (RDFCSC) curriculum. It aims to achieve one of the College’s primary objectives: to develop and produce officers who can effectively understand various national policy and governance issues. The NST offers students the opportunity to conduct in-depth field research on a specific national topic.

This year’s study tour focuses on Rwanda’s Agricultural Policy, with the goal of evaluating its effectiveness in ensuring the country’s resilience to unforeseen agricultural shocks resulting from potential crises in the near future. Issues such as disasters, climate change, and population growth present significant challenges, necessitating a comprehensive reassessment of the sustainability and resilience of the agriculture sector.

The students are divided in four teams, each traveling to a different Rwandan province to enhance their research. The areas visited today included the RAB Rubirizi Seed Laboratory, the RAB Rubirizi Veterinary Laboratory, the Gorilla Animal Feeds Factory, and the INYANGE Milk Factory.