How food security is improving in Kayonza drought-prone area

A large part of Kayonza District in Eastern Province of Rwanda used to be highly vulnerable to drought, poverty and food insecurity but things are improving thanks to intervention of Kayonza Irrigation and Integrated Watershed Management Project-Phase II (KIIWP2), some beneficiaries have witnessed.

In 2016, the Eastern Province of Rwanda was dramatically hit by a drought. More than 45,000 individuals became food insecure in the region, forcing the government to provide food and water. To mitigate future water-related calamities, the government of Rwanda in partnership with IFAD proposed the Kayonza Irrigation and Integrated Watershed Management Project (KIIWP). 

The objective of (KIIWP2) is to improve the food security and incomes of at least 40,000 rural households on a sustainable basis and build their climate resilience. The project intervention area comprises nine drought-prone sectors of the twelve sectors in Kayonza District, namely Gahini, Kabare, Kabarondo, Murama, Murundi, Mwiri, Ndego, Ruramira, and Rwinkwavu.

According to KIIWP2 Operations Manager, Uwitonze Théogène, the project will last for 10 years; the first phase of four years has been completed with activities that do not require sophisticated studies.

At least 1,950 ha of land husbandry developed (radical & progress terraces) and 2,000 ha reforested for catchment protection. 86,200 kilograms of improved seed and related fertilizers distributed to the project beneficiaries and 1,337 hectares covered by fruit trees planted in Murama, Kabarondo and Remera Sectors were maintained. These trees include avocados, mangoes, oranges and lames.

Over 51 kilograms of improved seed and related fertilizers, 20 metric tons of hybrid seeds of maize, 80 metric tons of DAP and 80 metric tons of Urea have been distributed to the farmers to increase the productivity and production.

Moreover, 31,500 kilograms of certified iron bean variety RWR 3194 were supplied to 26 cooperatives. Water for cattle and domestic use in Murundi, Gahini, Mwiri and Ndego Sectors was availed through installation of 20 boreholes and rehabilitation of 15 valley dams, among other achievements.

Nyandwi Pascal from Ndego Sector, Byimana Cell, who works in a cooperative that is engaged in beans, maize, vegetables farming and cassava seed multiplication, said that after starting to work with KIIWP2, their livelihood has changed.

He said, “Ndego has been hit by the drought before the project started; we used to get a short production due to the lack of rain. Later we found a partner who helped us to irrigate 20 hectares using solar-powered infrastructure. The production has increased enormously. For example, we are getting five metric tons of maize on one hectare compared to five hundred kilograms per hectare before. This increase has not only helped us fight hunger but also allowed us to produce surplus crops for the market, contributing to our family’s development. We can now afford to buy livestock.”

“Our partnership with KIIWP is well established. Through this project, we were given vegetable and potato seeds; they also helped us to get fertilizers and products that we use in our farming activities and get a good harvest. It helped us move from traditional to professional farming due to the training we are receiving. We are food secure, everyone has a kitchen garden at home like this model vegetable garden you have seen. It helps us get our children out of malnutrition”, Nyirarukundo Gloriose, another farmer witnessed.

Despite this, Nyirarukundo raised a concern of shortage of water due to poor irrigation infrastructure. She added that they are worried that their cassava that is reaching the harvesting stage may be damaged because they haven’t good connection with the market.

KIIWP2 Operations Manager, Uwitonze Théogène, assures the farmers that among other planned activities include connecting them with markets because “we are expecting a good harvest.”

In particular, cassava growers will be linked to the Kinazi Cassava Plant so that they can supply their harvest there.

The Project will reach out to 180,000 members where women will account for 50 per cent of the beneficiaries, and youth and young adults for 30 per cent.