Solar Irrigation Brings Relief to Women Farmers in Bugesera

By Justin Kayiranga

Women farmers in Bugesera district are celebrating a solar-powered irrigation project under the Rwanda Environment Management Authority’s (REMA) climate adaptation initiative. This project has transformed their farming lives by replacing years of backbreaking labor with efficient, sun-powered technology. Ukwishatse Triphine, a member of a chili farmers’ cooperative, shares her experience of this positive change.

For years, she spent hours fetching water from the distant marshes of Lake Cyohoha to irrigate her farmland. During dry seasons, this strenuous routine became even more exhausting, often requiring her to carry two watering cans while tending to her young child on her back.

“It was very difficult for us women to go and fetch water from the Cyohoha marshland, especially while carrying a child or caring for others,” Triphine recalls.

These challenges persisted until 2019 when Rwanda launched the five-year Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) approach, aimed at Building resilience of communities living in degraded forests, savannahs and wetlands. In Bugesera, where droughts and rising temperatures threaten agriculture, the project introduced solar-powered irrigation systems to help farmers cope with these impacts.

Triphine notes a remarkable change: “Now I can irrigate my farm quickly and easily. Our harvests have increased from about 100kg of chilli to 500kg on 10 acres of land.”

Umwali Angelique, Vice Mayor of Bugesera District, praises the initiative for its role in improving residents’ livelihoods. She emphasizes that the district has appointed a dedicated officer to oversee the proper use and maintenance of the new infrastructure.

Currently, these solar irrigation systems cover 34 hectares and serve multiple farmers’ cooperatives. Beyond boosting agricultural productivity and easing women’s hardships, the project promotes environmental sustainability by reducing reliance on diesel pumps, cutting carbon emissions, and supporting green growth.