A green technology for irrigation has been launched in Ngoma District in Rwanda. The Rwf271 million hillside irrigation scheme to water fruits and vegetables in sectors of Zaza and Mutender uses solar energy to distribute water on 20 hectares of smallholder farmers’ lands.
Targeted to benefit around 1,200 residents, the project established solar pumping systems and constructed two water reservoirs of 500m3 each to irrigate 10 hectares in the Zaza and 10 hectares in Mutenderi, using Lake Mugesera water in Zaza and source water in Mutenderi.
Currently, farmers have planted at Zaza site crops including bell peppers, French beans, watermelon, and eggplants, while in Mutenderi site, there are bell peppers, tomatoes, cabbages, carrots, onions, and eggplants.
Sustainability of the scheme
“The only role of the lake was water for home use. We used to plant two seasons a year, but now we will plant anytime. This will help us grow financially. Of course there will be a big difference,” declared Sophia Mukamukiza, 25-year old farmer from Nyakariba, Ruhinga Cell, Zaza.
To secure the sustainability of the scheme, the farmers were grouped into a cooperative, with the committee making sure the farmers pay maintenance fees at the end of the season, in order to repair damaged materials.
The project was introduced to increase the capacity of farmers in terms of horticultural productivity, climate resilience, and access to markets for a better livelihood of vulnerable groups in the two sectors, implemented by Rwanda Rural Rehabilitation Initiative (RWARRI) and funded by Rwanda Green Fund (FONERWA).
“The sun that previously caused drought is now changing people’s lives as it is now the source of power to irrigate the crops,” stated Uwizeye Belange, the Executive Secretary of RWARRI.
Everywhere around the district, the farmers are able to buy small-scale irrigation technologies and get a 50% subsidy from the government. Around 400 irrigation systems were provided to the farmers in the district over the last two years, according to Vice Mayor Mapambano. Ngoma has a total of 1,643 hectares of irrigated land, and the government targets to irrigate 2,300 hectares by 2024.
