Development of 153 Hectares of Kibaya-Cyunuzi Wetland to Boost Rice Production in Ngoma and Kirehe Districts

In parts of the Kibaya-Cyunuzi Wetland bordering Ngoma and Kirehe districts, over 153 hectares are set to be developed for rice cultivation. This initiative aims to increase regional rice production and support more farmers.

The effort comes at a time when the COOPRIKI_Cyunuzi Rice Farmers’ Cooperative, based in Gatore Sector, Kirehe District, comprising over 3,000 farmers from both districts, highlighted the potential of the undeveloped swampland between the two districts. They believe that developing this land could significantly boost productivity.

The cooperative has requested assistance from the Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB) to develop part of the Kibaya-Cyunuzi swamp. Currently, the cooperative cultivates 490 hectares and harvests around 2,800 to 3,000 tons per season, with an average yield of five tons per hectare. Developing the additional 153 hectares is expected to increase production and improve yields.

Harerimana Evariste, President of the cooperative, explained: “If we develop more of the swamp, our cultivated area will increase, and so will our harvests.”

Vice Mayor Nzirabatinya Modeste of Kirehe District reiterated that the expansion aligns with farmers’ requests. He noted, “RAB recently approved the processing of these hectares for rice cultivation, which will significantly increase the total area under cultivation and the amounts sent to the processing factory.”

This expansion is also expected to address the current underutilization at the Kirehe Rice Processing Factory, situated in Nyabigega Cell, Kirehe Sector. Although the factory has the capacity to process at least 4,500 tons per season, it currently handles only about 3,500 tons, often waiting up to two months for the next season’s harvest.

Currently, rice cultivation in Kirehe District spans over 800 hectares, with the “Kirehe Rice” factory serving as the main processing facility for the region’s rice.