Following the development of Gacaca marshland in Murundi Sector, Kayonza District, Eastern province in 2014, farmers in the marshland have significantly recorded bumper rice harvests.

Initially the area was a pasture land for cattle keepers before the intervention of Rural Sector Support Project (RSSP) in the marshland.

RSSP which focuses on unlocking rural growth to increase people’s incomes and reduce poverty   intervened in the area and helped farmers to put the marshland to productive use.

Despite the fact that it was suitable for rice farming, farmers preferred grazing their cattle in the marshland to crop growing.

In order to make the area productive, RSSP worked with farmers in the marshland trying out sustainable agriculture practices in their fields, provided training and other capacity-building activities, and a range of communication materials to bring knowledge to farmers with regards to sustainable rice farming.

Due to constant sensitisation by the RSSP staff with the help of Kayonza district authorities, farmers grew rice on 500 hectares of land and are happy of the first harvests.

Rice farmers in the area, who have significantly boosted their rice yields, have given positive feedback since they managed to record great yields in irrigated rice production.

“I didn’t want to engage in rice farming because I thought it was tiresome and required heavy investments before the intervention of RSSP in our area that is why I preserved my plot in the marshland for cattle rearing. After the development of the marshland I harvested 4 tonnes of rice on 60 Ares.  This is unbelievable; I never thought I would achieve this,” says Jean Claude Karasanyi, one of the farmers.

He is among thousands of rice farmers in the Gacaca marshland who have significantly registered great yields after developing their land.

The 30 year old Karasanyi, stated that from his rice sales, he received Rwf1, 000,000 which he had never held in his hands since he was born.

“I am planning to construct a commercial building in Murundi trading centre where I will conduct my business in different commodities. I thank RSSP and the government of Rwanda for developing our marshland which gives us hope that with continued increased yields and incomes will further improve our life for the better,” said the father of two children.

Though there was resistance and strong protests in the mind of local residents, farmers are very happy with the yields to the point that they have vowed to continue in a larger scale.

Farmers believe rice could be the solution to imported rice species that are widely consumed locally in the country.

Marceline Ahobantegeye, also another farmer could not hide her excitement since the rice produce was too much unlike before when she was producing little only for home consumption.

“I am so happy because this is the first time I harvested this much since I started rice farming. I am very grateful to RSSP for the way they are helping us in this village. After selling my produce, I will use part of the money to renovate my house and be able to take care of my children’s education,” she noted.

Ahobanegeye who looks after a family of six harvested 2.5 tonnes of rice on 20 Ares. She plans to renovate her house and improve her family’s welfare.

“I used to harvest 300 kilograms on 20 Ares which was little to satisfy my family but now I produce enough for home consumption and surplus for markets,” she says.

About 1576 people have benefited from the Gacaca marshland development.

RSSP3 also targets to develop 1,500 Ha with comprehensive land husbandry technologies in the hillsides surrounding marshlands. The surrounding hillsides are protected against soil erosion in order to prevent siltation to the marshland.

The development of Mushaduka water retaining dam in Gisagara District, Southern Province will enable rice farmers in the marshland increase in agricultural productivity and a significant rise in their incomes.

Rice holds a special place in the minds of many farmers in Mushaduka. Its standard fare at meals and many of the Gisagara, rural residents rely on rice farming as a primary source of income.

But rice farming has become tougher in recent years in the Mushaduka marshland due to unreliability of water and poor drainage meant farmers in the area weren’t getting enough water when they needed it.

With the introduction of the dam in the area, and rehabilitation of the marshland, will lead to an increase in rice productivity and incomes of farmers in the marshland.

The dam construction is funded by the World Bank under Rural Sector Support Project phase three at the tune of $2.4 million.

The irrigation scheme is part of the Government of Rwanda’s programme to achieve the overall vision of ending extreme poverty and promoting the country’s economic prosperity.

At the end of the works, which are at 98 percent, the dam will enable farmers in the marshland irrigate their rice fields during the dry season to plant rice two time per year.

With the capacity to store 450,000 million cubic meters of water, the 13 meter high dam is expected to retain enough water to irrigate 200ha throughout the year which will benefit all categories of farmers, that is, commercial, medium and small scale.

Today most farmers in Mushaduka rice marshland still cultivate rice only in the wet season and too often famers’ crops have low yields due to water insufficiency.

Alphonse Kadage, one of the rice farmers in Mushaduka marshland said that the most profitable rice producing period is during the dry period however, most farmers have no access to irrigation to plant and harvest cost-effective dry season rice.

“We thank the government of Rwanda for supporting us to increase our rice yield and improve our incomes. With this dam, we are guaranteed to access sufficient water to use for irrigation all year,” he noted.

Kadage emphasised farmer’s rice plantation in the marshland will not be affected by dry weather anymore once the dam is completed

Like many farmers in the Rural Sector Support Project (RSSP) intervention areas across the country, Peter Muyango talks with pride after recording increased rice produce within a short period of time.

 The 45 year old resides in Kayigiro Village, Gitegure cell, Tabagwe sector, Nyagatare district had been depending on livestock income before embarking on Rice farming. Income generated from livestock was not enough to sustain his family.

Following the development of Muvumba marshland in Tabagwe Sector, Nyagatare District, Eastern Province in 2011, farmers in the marshland have significantly recorded bumper rice harvests.

Initially the area was a pasture land for cattle keepers before the development of the marshland by Rural Sector Support Project (RSSP).

RSSP which focuses on unlocking rural growth to increase people’s incomes and reduce poverty   intervened in the area and helped farmers to put the marshland to productive use. Despite the fact that it was suitable for rice farming, farmers preferred grazing their cattle in the marshland to crop growing.

“I didn’t want to engage in rice farming because I thought it was tiresome and required heavy investments not until RSSP intervened in our area. We were taught how to make our marshland productive. RSSP staff worked with us in the marshland trying out sustainable agriculture practices, provided us with training and capacity-building. After the training, I started rice farming on 2ha of land where I harvested 11 tons,” says Muyango.

With a beaming face, he added: “This is unbelievable; I never thought I would achieve this.”

Muyango has recorded significant achievements after implementing RSSP sustainable agriculture practices. He has bought three Friesian cows worth Rwf300, 000 each. He has even managed to raise school fees for his children.

“From rice sales, I have managed to construct a house worth Rwf17 million. I am able to look after a family of 10 people, and all my children are at school.  I really thank the government of Rwanda and RSSP for offering us real and affordable means to break out of poverty and obtain food security,” he says.

“I am currently investing my money in buying more plots for rice cultivation in the marshland. Perhaps in 5 years, I will be a successful rice farmer in Rwanda and in the region.

The 45 year old is among thousands of rice farmers in Muvumba marshland who have significantly registered great yields after developing their land.

Farmers in the Rural Sector Support Project (RSSP) intervention areas of Kirimbi marshland and the surrounding hillsides in Nyamasheke District have formed cooperatives with an intention to empower the farming community and expand their economic opportunity.

The two cooperatives ‘Coproma–Abatarushwa’ for Kirimbi hillside and ‘Duhuzimbaraga’ for the marshland seek to lay a strong foundation of improving productivity and alleviation of poverty among members.

Farmers form a cooperative after being organized in self help groups and zones and as well as trained for a period of one year so that so that they can be inspired to have a strong cooperative in place.

Coproma–Abatarushwa’ is made up of 3625 members, including 2233 males and 1392 females who were previously organised in 168 associations distributed in 12 zones.

On the other hand Duhuzimbaraga cooperative comprises of 2320 members, 1265 females and 1055 males who were previously organised in 155 associations distributed in 6 zones.

The cooperatives will focus on improving farmer’s income from the marketplace, maintain access to competitive credit, and advise them on better and sustainable agricultural practices.

Before RSSP intervention, smallholder farmers in Kirimbi marshland and hillside have traditionally lacked access to basic agricultural knowledge and information which has made them to stick to their old traditional methods of farming hence resulting in poor crop yield. 

Initially Kirimbi site was unproductive and prone to severe soil erosion due to poor agricultural practices, but with the intervention of the project the area has been efficiently utilised and farmers have benefited a lot from the project’s comprehensive land husbandry technologies.

The government through RSSP trained farmers in Nyamasheke better agricultural practices such as compost making, post-harvest handling, marketing, business planning, saving and the use of tree nursery maintenance to strengthen terraces.

 “We have been brainstorming a lot about what we can do to further strengthen us as an organization. This initiative is based on the principle of working together as one to improve our livelihood,” said Thomas Mudahambara, president of Coproma–Abatarushwa.

He thanked RSSP for organizing them into farmer groups that have laid a foundation for forming a strong cooperative.

“Our soils are poor and soil erosion had greatly affected agriculture in this area. The land was basically unproductive; we had abandoned most of it. After acquiring proper land management with comprehensive land husbandry technologies we are registering great yields,” Mudahambara said.

However Pierre Nyabyenda, president of Duhuzimbaraga cooperative said that it will expand farmers’ access to purchasing and distribution outlets.

Farmers in the area have registered an increased crop produce for instance beans from 0.3 ton per hectare to 2 tons per hectare and have become suppliers of various markets in the country which has lifted them out of poverty.

Laban Mpakaniye, LWH/RSSP Community Development Officer who represented Project Coordinator said: “The establishment of competitive, profit-oriented and professionally managed cooperative will enable farmers increase productivity and enhance their incomes.”

The Rural Sector Support Project Third phase (RSSP3) has supported the development of Rugende marshland located in the districts of Gasabo, Kicukiro and Rwamagana, to enable farmers increase in agricultural productivity, and a significant rise in their incomes.

The development works, include land leveling, irrigation infrastructure, and drainage network in an environmentally sustainable manner, will cover 385ha meant for rice, fodder production, and vegetable farming.

Initially Rugende marshland was subjected to poor agricultural methods were farmers practiced traditional subsistence agriculture in the marshland that resulted into low yield.

With the intervention of RSSP3 in the area, activities to develop the marshland are underway, and 385ha are expected to be covered by end January 2017. This is being done with the ultimate goal to have well exploited marshlands with significant contribution to the country's agricultural transformation.

In order to make the area more productive, RSSP is working with farmers in the marshland trying out sustainable agriculture practices in their fields such as training and other capacity-building activities for proper utilization of marshland.

Marshland development presents an opportunity to ensure food security and economic growth in Rwanda which needs sustainably balanced socio-economic and ecological use of marshlands.

The 385ha marshland has been divided into three categories of agriculture production whereby 140 ha will be for rice farming, 130 ha for fodder production, and 115ha has been allocated for the cultivation of a wide range of vegetables.

To make the land more productive all year around, RSSP3 is constructing a water retaining dam that will enable farmers in the marshland irrigate their crop fields throughout the year.

With the capacity to store 1,350,000 million cubic meters of water, the 13.50 meter high dam is expected to retain enough water to irrigate 385ha throughout the year. The dam construction is expected to conclude by April 2017.

Farmers will be in position to receive sufficient water to irrigate their crops on a regular basis by January 2018.  The increase in the productivity of the lands due to sufficient water will lead to a considerable rise in income for marshland dwellers.

For a proper use of the Rugende marshland, beneficiaries have been grouped into self help groups to allow them to fully access benefits accruing from the marshland development.

RSSP3 which focuses on unlocking rural growth to increase people’s incomes and reduce poverty has intervened in the area with a core aim of supporting farmers to put the marshland to productive use.

RSSP funded by the World Bank since 2001 is implemented under the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources Single Projects Implementation Unit (SPIU) and have played a key role towards transforming people’s livelihoods through improved agriculture.

The project targets to reduce poverty in rural areas through increased agricultural production and income. During the first two phases of RSSP (RSSP1, RSSP2), the project rehabilitated /developed  6,440 ha of marshland through construction of dams and irrigation canals which facilitate irrigation in the dry season and flood control in the rainy season  for rice cultivation.

This program which operates in most of the districts across the country has been very successful is now in the third phase of implementation to be completed in 2018. 

Farmers in Rwangingo-Karanganzi marshland, in Gatsibo and Nyagatare districts, Eastern Province have been excited by the first rice and maize harvest following the development of the once unproductive and pasture land.

Rural Sector Support Project third phase (RSSP3) applied improved agricultural techniques, and proper water management through construction of irrigation systems which turned the marshland into productive land.

Initially, before RSSP3 intervention in Rwangingo-Karanganzi marshland, the area was a pasture land for cattle, with few pieces of land designated for crop production where farmers practiced traditional subsistence farming mixing all kinds of crops (maize, beans, sorghum and vegetables) on one piece of land in the marshland. 

RSSP which focuses on unlocking rural growth to increase people’s incomes and reduce poverty intervened in the area and helped farmers to put the marshland to productive use.

The development works in the area, included land ploughing, leveling, irrigation infrastructure, and drainage network in an environmentally sustainable manner, on 900-hectares of land.

“The development of Rwangingo marshland and construction of irrigation system have enabled me to achieve a plentiful production of rice, and such a production has brought smile on my face and my family. I cultivated rice on 20 Ares, and I have now managed to harvest 1 ton. I am so proud of Rural Sector Support Project and the Government of Rwanda for supporting farmers to move from subsistence agriculture to commercial farming,” says Jean D'amour Kwihangana, a rice farmer in Rwangingo-Karanganzi marshland.

In order to make the area productive, the project worked with farmers in the marshland trying out sustainable agriculture practices in their fields, provided training and other capacity-building activities.

To enable farmers in the marshland to improve land productivity in a region where farming is highly dependent on rainfall, Rwangingo dam was also constructed to enable rice farmers in the marshland to get enough water for irrigation.

With the introduction of the dam, and development of the marshland, have led to an increase in rice and maize produce for farmers. This was after a lot of resistance from marshland dwellers who preferred cattle rearing in the marshland to crop production.

“I was told to grow rice in this marshland, but I did not like the idea because that is where I was grazing my cows during the dry season. Eventually I had no option but to grow rice and now I am excited about the first harvests. Growing rice was the best decision I have ever made,” said Emmanuel Ntibizerwa, one of the rice farmers in Rwangingo marshland.

Currently, in Rwangingo-Karanganzi marshland, farmers are in a jovial mood as they have started harvesting rice and maize for the first time since the development of the marshland.

Farmers planted rice on 245ha, while maize was planted on 655ha and the yield is significantly amazing.
Development of the marshland has also seen more than 100 water troughs for cattle constructed on surrounding hillside area, in order to resolve crop-livestock conflict in the marshland.

The project is also supporting the fodder on buffer zone of the marshland and has started training farmers how to conserve them to resist the dry season and ensure the wellbeing of livestock.  

Apart from strengthening farmers’ organizations in the completed marshlands at the end of the previous phase1 & 2 in 2012, RSSP3 that kicked off in 2013 has so far completed 5,163Ha for irrigation in the marshlands and is currently developing an additional 8,00Ha across the country while 1,411Ha more will start. 

Along with the ongoing activities in marshland development, the project protected the adjacent hillside areas on 14,598Ha (85% of the target) and constructed 14 storage facilities and 50 dryers for proper postharvest management and increasing the marketed share of produce.

 For sustainability purposes in the project intervention areas; 77,039 Households have been grouped into 2,835 Self Help Groups. These farmers are strengthened to become good agriculture practitioners with diversified skills on good agricultural practices, marketing and formal financial services in order to increase their income.

This has had significant results after 2 years and half: the annual productivity of marshlands has increased from a baseline of USD 662 to USD 2,363 per hectare; share of marketed rice produce increased from 44% to more than 85%; and farmers using improved farming methods rose from 33% to 86%.