There is a need for mobilising and increasing more financial resources to scale up agro-forestry to increase soil fertility and climate resilience across the country, researchers have recommended.

The need was reiterated in a national conference on agro-forestry which brought together different researchers in Kigali on Tuesday October 4, 2022.

According to the research "Soil fertility and agro-forestry”- carried out in Southern province” whose findings were presented at the conference by researchers from University of Rwanda and University College Ghent (HoGent)-the application of agro-forestry, is still very low.

The research by Jean Nduwamungu, Joos Latre, Frank Van Boxstael, Martin Ntawubizi and Vincent de Paul Bigirimana, shows that agro-forestry trees such as Grevillea, Calliandra and Cedrela are the most popular soil erosion control measures but the use was found at only 30 percent.

"Only a few agro-forestry trees and legume plants are found on the farm. Therefore, there is a need to create awareness on the use of more agro-forestry practices to enhance farm productivity,” researchers said.

The issue is raised at a time Rwanda is losing Rwf800 billion annually due to soil erosion, that is caused by lack of anti-erosion techniques including agro-forestry, organic fertilisers as well as use of lime.

Agro-forestry increases both soil fertility and controls soil erosion, according to experts.

According to another research carried out in Eastern province by Valens Uwizeyimana and his five counterparts, there are 67 underrepresented tree species in agro-forestry that could supply 24.6 percent of raw materials and 22.5 percent of food supply if given attention.

Such kinds of agro-forests, according to research, can regulate climate at 49 percent and facilitate pollination at 26.7 percent.

The trees were also found to serve for recreation.

The ongoing analysis of this study will lead to a more detailed insight, researchers said.

The study recommends a participatory approach that considers farmers’ preferences regarding the choice of tree species and expected ecosystem services before production and distribution of seedlings.

Researcher Julienne Gatesi, who works with farmers to do research in agro-forestry in Eastern province-the most drought-affected province, said she is assessing the impact of the existing agro-forestry trees on farm productivity.

"The results will recommend what kind of agro-forestry species can bring more productivity to farmers,” she said.

Vincent Nsabuwera, the in-charge of forestry and agro-forestry projects at Enabel-Belgium Development Agency, said that there is a need to work with researchers from different universities to come up with innovations in the agro-forestry sector through different researches.

"There is a five-year project we are implementing with six stakeholders focusing on agro-forestry systems and indigenous trees in coping with drought and boosting agricultural productivity in Eastern province,” he said.

Need for Rwf11 billion to increase agro-forestry trees

According to National Agroforestry Strategy, there is a need for Rwf11.2 billion to scale up agro-forestry by 2027.

Rwanda projects to have 100 percent of the farms implementing agroforestry by 2030.

The target will be almost achieved by 2027 and with other intervention called NDCs (climate plans submitted to UN) 100 % will be achieved by 2030.

Experts have said that although there is a strong interest and potential for agroforestry to contribute to the economy and help to achieve sustainable development goals, agroforestry development and implementation is impeded by lack of investment in research, training, infrastructure as well as inadequate knowledge, poor dissemination and coordination.

Patrick Karera, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, said that innovative research-proven climate-smart agro-forestry could improve the resilience of farmers to climate change.

"Rwanda has made various commitments to restore a degraded landscape and biodiversity. One of them is to restore two million hectares by 2030 and agro-forestry was identified as the backbone for landscape restoration,” he said, adding that developed agro-forestry strategy will help in meeting the targets.

"Investing in landscape restoration is the best investment we can make. By restoring landscape, we create jobs, improve wellbeing and build community resilience to climate change,” he noted.

Karera said that the ministry is working with researchers to identify agro-forestry tree species that are productive to farmers.

He said that there are two multi-billion projects worth Rwf58 billion to restore degraded forests in Eastern province in a period of five years.

"The implementation will start with the forthcoming tree planting season this month,” he said.