Consumers seem to be changing their purchasing habits due to confinement, side effects of the containment measures to combat the pandemic are spreading and affect the vegetables farmers in Gasabo, Kinyinya sector, in different ways farmers face covid19 challenges. After the Corona pandemic brought out scenarios that many of them face loss. The food services channels, which mostly used purchase at least 5% to 15% of fresh vegetables, unfortunately hotels, schools, and restaurants, have been closed, while was among the main customers. Based on different majors which taken to fight this pandemic. However, the sector officials emphasized that is very important to recovery they business and help to access the vegetables crops seeds early despites challenges which have been caused by this pandemic.

“Vegetable farmers who have been struggling to get quality seeds during Covid-19, we’ll hardy Providing quality vegetable at the markets, while most of us haven’t accessed the needed and required seeds to smallholder farmers due to covid 19, the price can increase and we can still face the loss, where can can’t feed well our family.” Mukashema esther” 33, vegetable farmer, kinyinya sector said

“The vegetables farmers add support to Rwanda’s economic development, to promote farmers’ self-reliance, where they can access the seeds at the right time, despite that some farmers have been interrupted by this pandemic challenges, however, it’s increase vegetables farmers yield and contribute to Rwanda’s export earnings, however we’re doing advocacy with institutions in charge and our partners in agriculture sector, while strategizing on their business recovery.” Nduwayezu Alfred, ES Kinyinya said.

“PSF conducts its advocacy through the private-public dialog. Advocacy Tools

intended to change business attitudes, etc. The economy is facing a large external shock vegetables farmers and traders will face the Consequences, as well as customers. Before COVID-19. Rwanda’s agriculture has experienced advanced development to

national efforts to transform well modern agriculture which linkage to business economic and trade. therefore, by strengthen farmers and doing advocacy for economic recovery, it’ll contribute to sustainable development growth.” Mr. Gasana, private sector federation Rwanda (PSF), Gasabo district said.

According to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is an ecosystem approach to crop production and protection that combines different management strategies and practices to grow healthy crops and minimize the use of pesticides. IPM is based on four practical principles: grow a healthy crop; conserve natural enemies; observe fields regularly; and farmers become experts.

Biological diversity is the foundation for our food, nutrition and health and a key catalyst to transforming food systems, improving human health and contributing to poverty reduction. Therefore, the loss of agricultural biodiversity can pose a serious risk to food security and public health.

The Africa region depends on the rich biodiversity and the associated traditional knowledge of the continent to both address challenges such as climate change, food and nutrition insecurity and food safety and to support sustainable and resilient agriculture production systems.