Kayonza Irrigation and Integrated Watershed Management Project - Phase I

Background

In 2016, the Eastern Province of Rwanda was dramatically hit by a drought, which brough additional burdens to already existing systematic challenges that farmers in the region faced. More thatn 45,000 individuals became food insecure in the region, forcing the government to provide food and water. To mitigate future water-related calamities, the government proposes the Kayonza Irrigation and Integrated Watershed Management Project (KIIWMP). 

Goals & Approach

The goal of KIIWP to reduce poverty in the drought prone Eastern Province of Rwanda; it aims to improve food security and incomes of over 50,000 rural households sustainably while also building climate resilience. This will be achieved through increasing production and productivity levels of climate-resilient foods and livestock while also improving market access and business development. 

Reported Takeaways

The main expected outcomes of the project include: improving access to land, forests, water and water bodies for production purposes; increased farm acreage of farmland under water-related infrastructure; increased acreage of farmland under climate resilient management and practices; increased capacity of smallholder farmers and local government to sustainably manage natural resources and climate-related risks; enhanced farmers' use of technologies, equipment and infrastructure adapted to smallholder agriculture; and increase farmers economic benefits.