10,000 check-dams and 1,500m of stone masonry lining to be constructed in 4 sectors of Gicumbi district
By Justin Kayiranga
Gicumbi district is one of the most mountainous areas in Rwanda, and many of these mountains are so steep that there is a high risk of soil erosion during the rainy season.
In tackling this issue, currently in different sectors of Gicumbi district, Green Gicumbi project is constructing check-dams and lining that will help in mitigating the erosion and landslides that occur mostly during rainy seasons.
The Cyumba sector is one of the sectors where these activities are being executed.
Dusabimana Fulgence, Construction manager for Green Gicumbi project says that: “In the past, rocks and mud were found coming down from the top of the hill and falling into the road. So what the project did was build check-dams so that the downhill soil gets immediately retained.”
“We are not blocking the flow of water but what we do is filtering it so that it doesn’t go down with the erosion as it was damaging the road and plantations in Mulindi swamp.”
Residents of the Cyumba sector praise these activities of the Green Gicumbi project as they are no longer struggling with the erosion.
Musabyimana Jeanne, who lives closer to where the erosion used to devastate, revealed that they were always worried and some had stopped planting due to the erosion coming from the top of the hill and destroying their crops.
She said: “We had a lot of losses because when we planted it would rain and the water would flow with rocks and immediately take away our plantations. There was also a resident who lived near the gully, whose houses were demolished, but now that it has been rehabilitated we are feeling safe”
Apart from Cyumba Sector, rehabilitation activities like this are also being conducted in other sectors of Gicumbi district including Kageyo, Byumba and Manyagiro.
According to the figures provided by Rwanda Green Fund (FONERWA) which is in charge of implementing Green Gicumbi project, 2,400 check-dams out of 10,000 targeted have already been constructed while 730m out of 1,500m of stone masonry lining have also been constructed.
