LWH/ RSSP

"I thank Sustainable Agricultural Intensification and Food Security Project (SAIP) treating our land and teaching us improved agriculture practices. I'm earning a considerable income from maize yield and other crops," says Marie Gaudence Mujawamariya one of the smallholder farmers in the Project site in Nzige sector, Rwamagana District.

The World Bank Group official has commended farmers in the Sustainable Agricultural Intensification and Food security Project (SAIP) intervention area of Rwamagana district, Eastern Province for efforts made towards improved agricultural practices.

Ms. Anshula Kant, the World Bank Group Managing Director and Chief Financial Officer said that she was impressed by what farmers are doing to increase agricultural production, improve house hold income and overall improve standards of living.

During her visit to Rwamagana SAIP site, Kant was accompanied by Mr. Yasser El- Gammal, Country Manager for the World Bank Group in Rwanda and other bank officials.

At the site, she was welcomed by Mr. Radjab Mbonyumuvunyi, Mayor of Rwamagana District, Dr. Charles Bucagu, Deputy Director General of Agriculture Research and Technology Transfer at the Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB), Mr. Innocent Bisangwa, Coordinator SPIU World Bank and KOICA funded Projects, local leaders and farmers.

“I appreciate what you are doing. I hope this becomes permanent even when the World Bank, government and the Project no longer there to give you all the support, and you will be able to do it on your own,” Kant told Rwamagana farmers.

Farmers in intervention site in Gatsibo District, Eastern Province anticipate bumper maize harvest due to favourable weather conditions, timely planting, improved agricultural inputs and as well as improved farming practices.

'Turwanye Imirire mibi Karambi' special self-help group of smallholder farmers in the SAIP intervention site in Karambi village, Kibisabo Cell, Rambura Sector, NyabihuDistrict
engage in mushroom farming to improve their household nutrition and generate income for their families.

For the past 4 weeks, farmers in the intervention site in
Rwamagana District have harvested more than 4tons of fresh chilli peppers. They are excited about the harvest, and pretty enough, they have been linked by the Project to export markets.

Farmers in the intervention site in Nyanza District, Southern Province are about to harvest mangoes that were planted in the area by the completed project-Land Husbandry Water Harvesting and Hillside Irrigation (LWH). Farmers are looking forward to earning extra income from these mangoes.

A supervision mission implementation team from South Korea meets with SPIU SAIP/RCSP staff to assess the achievements of the Rural Community Support Project (RCSP) which is in its final months of implementation ahead of closure in December 2019. The team will also conduct field visits in the areas of Project implementation across the country to evaluate Project achievements and its impact on beneficiaries (farmers). RCSP is a project funded by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA). The Project is implemented under Single Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) of the Rwanda Agricultural and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB).
RCSP aims to increase agricultural productivity of farmers in the marshlands and hillsides, increase farmers’ income and strengthen the participation of beneficiary farmers with ownership based on the diligence, self-help and cooperative, mindset approach. It targets rural farmer groups and individuals most especially smallholders in intervention areas producing rice, maize, beans, horticulture (fruits and vegetables) and other crops.

Today, former Acting Coordinator SPIU SAIP/RCSP Mr. Jean Marie Kagenza handed over to newly appointed Coordinator Mr. Innocent Bisangwa at an event held at SPIU headquarters in Kacyiru, Gasabo District. The event was graced by the Director-General of the RAB, Dr. Patrick Karangwa.

Smallholder farmers in the Sustainable Agricultural Intensification and Food Security Project (SAIP) intervention area in Rwamagana District, Eastern Province are in bumper French bean yield production. Farmers attribute the increased yield to improved agricultural practices and access to water for irrigation which not only increase their incomes but also breed healthier crops for markets and their families.

Felician Sebahire, one of the smallholder farmers in the Sustainable Agricultural Intensification and Food Security Project (SAIP) intervention site of Karongi District, Western Province reaps big from horticultural farming due to improved agricultural practices and water availability for irrigation.
Sebahire 49, is a resident of Rusebeya village, Gitwa cell, Rubengera sector.
Despite the high returns he gets from horticultural farming, passion fruits remain his major venture because they fetch him higher returns than any other crop. He cultivates passion fruits on 17 Ares and harvests more than 800kgs monthly. He says that he takes 800kgs to local markets and each kilogram costs between Rwf800 and Rwf1000 depending on the market demand.
“It is encouraging when you get your money after harvesting because it gives you morale to grow more and more to raise extra income,” he said.
Sebahire added: “I thank SAIP for supporting us to reach this far by teaching us improved farming methods and constructing irrigation systems in our area.”
He says farming is engaging as any other career, adding that commitment is one of the key elements to reaping such high benefits from horticultural crops.
Apart from passion fruits, Sebahire cultivates carrots, cucumbers and cabbages on a small scale.

Farmers in the intervention site of
Rwamagana District, Eastern Province have taken advantage of the hillside irrigation system in the area by growing crops for commercial purposes. Farmers have grown chilli pepper, French beans and tomatoes on a large scale.

The development of irrigation systems in the SAIP intervention sites across rural Rwanda has raised farmers’ incomes and brought hope to the community. The Project is also supporting farmers to establish Small Scale Irrigation Technologies (SSITs) to strengthen productive irrigation use.