By Rose Mukagahizi
Farmers in Ndego Sector, Kayonza District, grouped under the “Duhuze Imbaraga” association, say the Kayonza irrigation and integrated watershed management project (KIIWP) has helped them make major progress in fighting chronic drought, after terraces were constructed on their land.
For Kayonza, drought was particularly severe between 2016 and 2018, when prolonged dry spells led to livestock deaths, bare hillsides, and many households struggling to access enough food. Residents say the situation has changed significantly, and that they no longer face the recurring hardship they once endured.
Munganyinka Sandrine, a farmer in Ndego Sector, credits KIIWP for providing training and building terraces, which improved both soil conservation and productivity.
“Our area often suffers drought because of intense sun. Even when it rains, it can fall badly and cause disasters. But since we got terraces, even little rainfall can be productive. We can also get fodder for livestock, and we no longer rely on firewood,” she said.
She added that the shift has boosted yields sharply: where she previously harvested about 20 kilograms of maize per hectare, she now says she can harvest two tonnes of maize from the terraced land.
Sandrine also noted that working within a farmers’ group strengthened savings culture among members, enabling her to improve her living conditions, including building a better house and purchasing assets such as a motorcycle and a radio.
Ndahimana Vincent, the chairperson of the farmers’ group, said KIIWP developed terraces across 100 hectares of consolidated land. The farmers grow beans and maize using seeds provided by the project, and he emphasized that the project’s close follow-up support has been key to their success.
“Before the terraces, this place was in a very bad state. Erosion was so severe that production was unreliable, and it was hard for households to find what they needed to survive. We thank the Government of Rwanda and KIIWP because yields have increased and our lives have changed. We no longer suffer recurring food shortages,” he said.
To address drought sustainably, Rwanda adopted combined measures implemented through KIIWP (Kayonza Irrigation and Integrated Watershed Management Project), which focuses on irrigation and integrated watershed management in Kayonza District. The project’s main goal is to strengthen the resilience of 40,000 households (about 180,000 people) against climate change, increase crop and livestock productivity, and ultimately improve household incomes and food security.
