Our projects> Promoting Sustainable Agriculture in a Changing Climate in Bugesera District

Promoting Sustainable Agriculture in a Changing Climate in Bugesera District

Closed

Combination

Agriculture/fishery

Call 6

Rwanda

Time consumed

Start: 19-May-17 End: 31-Oct-19

Lead Nordic partner

Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI)

Country of Lead Nordic partner

Sweden

Local partner(s)

Nile Basin Discourse Forum in Rwanda (NBDF Rwanda)

Other partner(s)

Rwanda Environmental Conservation Organization (RECOR)

NCF grant size

500,000

Total project cost

1,124,204

Technologies

Solar-powered drip irrigations

Methods

Agroforestry, Organic farming, Training

Country of implementation:

Rwanda

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Description

The project will support green growth for sustainable livelihoods through fruit trees and tree cover, using green irrigation and low carbon technologies, and inspiring smallholder farmers to promote a market oriented climate resilient agriculture.

Agriculture is a mainstay of the Rwandan economy, contributing about 39% of the GDP and sustaining most of its rural population. Rwanda is currently highly vulnerable to climate change as it is... The project will support green growth for sustainable livelihoods through fruit trees and tree cover, using green irrigation and low carbon technologies, and inspiring smallholder farmers to promote a market oriented climate resilient agriculture.

Agriculture is a mainstay of the Rwandan economy, contributing about 39% of the GDP and sustaining most of its rural population. Rwanda is currently highly vulnerable to climate change as it is strongly reliant on rain-fed agriculture. From recent survey data, the populations with the greatest risk of being affected by climate change are the food insecure and otherwise highly vulnerable (e.g. disease burdened) groups. Areas where access to food is most problematic include the Eastern Curve, Bugesera, Southern Plateau and Lake Shore areas where over 45% of the households have reduced access to food.

Bugesera District is located in the densely populated low lands of the Eastern region, and greatly affected by long periods of drought which tend to become cyclical and persistent. Despite the many water bodies in the region, composed of lakes and rivers, Bugesera has suffered long dry spells with adverse impacts on livelihoods and welfare of the populace. Crop failure during the 2000 drought meant the entire region had to depend on external food supplies. The extent and intensity of land degradation have also weakened its resilience. Drought, combined with overgrazing and poor cultivation practices, has led to deterioration in pasture and arable land to the point where many have been abandoned. There is an emergence of pests and diseases, possibly because of changing environmental conditions, crop pests were reported to have increased. All these have been exacerbated by poverty, and poor coping and mitigating capacity to a changing climate.

The proposed project will strengthen resilience and address green growth for sustainable livelihoods through increasing fruit tree cover using green, and low carbon technologies, and inspire smallholder farmers to promote a market oriented climate resilient agriculture practice in eight (8) sectors of Bugesera district (Marema, Rweru, Ngeruka, Ruhuha, Kamabuye, Nyarugenge, Rilima and Juru).

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Objective

In this project, 172,000 improved seedlings resistant to drought will be produced and planted in eight sectors of the Bugesera District. These will consist of indigenous fruit varieties grafted with more productive varieties such as mangoes, oranges and avocado. Other major outputs of the project are:
•Increased capacity. 20 Rwandan policy and decision makers from governmental, private organisations and civil society will receive training and increased...