The World Bank delegation led by Mr. Keith Hansen, the Country Director for Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia and Uganda, on Monday visited Muyanza site in Rulindo district, Northern Province to witness the bank’s support to agriculture transformation and its impact to beneficiaries (farmers).
Muyanza site is one of the Sustainable Agriculture Intensification and Food security Project (SAIP) intervention sites across the country that were developed by the completed project Land Husbandry Water Harvesting and Hillside Irrigation Project (LWH) funded by the World Bank.
During the field visit to Muyanza, the World Bank team was welcomed by the Rulindo district authorities, the Director General of Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB), Dr. Patrick Karangwa and SPIU World Bank and KOICA funded Projects Coordinator, Mr. Stephen Rwamulangwa and farmers, among others.
The delegation visited Muyanza water retaining dam, hillside irrigation command area, cold room, chili pepper value chain and greenhouse farming.
During the visit, the Word bank delegation had an interactive discussions with farmers and as well as investors in the horticulture in the Project area.
The team was impressed by the Project’s progress to improve the lives of farmers through improved agricultural practices aimed at increasing food security, poverty reduction and improved rural lives.
The World Bank officials also commended SAIP for its efforts in supporting farmers to venture into commercial agriculture most especially the cultivation of high value export crops.
Due to improved agricultural practices and water availability for irrigation in SAIP site, in Muyanza, farmers have since shifted to commercial farming to boost their income and improve livelihoods.
SAIP is funded by the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP), through the World Bank Group– International Development Association (IDA).
The Project is implemented under the Single Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) of the Rwanda Agricultural and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB).
Muyanza site covers seven sectors of Burega, Buyoga, Cyinzuzi, Mbogo,Tumba, Ntarabana and Mutete in Rulindo District. The total area developed with comprehensive land husbandry technologies is on 2,550 ha for the rain-fed area and 1,100 ha for hillside irrigation.
In the site, there are 12,146 farmers households (43% of them, women) grouped into four cooperatives.