Hadjara N

An irrigation investment under the Second Sustainable Agricultural Intensification and Food Security Project (SAIP II) is delivering results beyond traditional farming in Rwanda’s Southern Province. While the project is helping thousands of smallholder farmers increase production in Huye District, it is also transforming the Catholic University of Rwanda (CHUR) in neighboring Gisagara District into a

The project is turning once dry fields into productive farms, giving families a reliable source of food and income even during the dry season. In Kabare Sector, Kayonza District, the Kayonza IV irrigation scheme stretches across 365 hectares, where 416 farmers grow vegetables and fruits including tomatoes, chilli, cabbage and avocado.

Out of approximately 123,000 households in Rwamagana District, more than 88,000 depend on agriculture for their livelihoods.

As production expands, new opportunities are emerging in transport, irrigation equipment maintenance, greenhouse construction, storage facilities, produce aggregation and agricultural trade.

If the rains came late, his crops suffered. If drought lasted longer than expected, he harvested less. Like thousands of smallholder farmers across Rwanda, especially in the country’s dry Eastern Province, he depended entirely on the weather to feed his family and earn a living. Today, that has changed.

311 newly certified extension agents say they are ready to help farmers increase production, adopt climate-smart agriculture and improve food security across Rwanda More than 300 agricultural extension agents trained by One Acre Fund Rwanda have committed to help farmers adopt modern farming practices after completing a national training programme aimed at increasing agricultural production