EASTERN PROVINCE
 
RWAMAGANA—If all goes as planned, Rwandans will soon be harvesting rain water, state minister of water and minerals has said.

"The ministry is set to start rain water harvesting in order to put it at use in times of need,” Prof Bikoro Munyanganizi said while officiating at the launch of training session for water resource management.

"We get a lot of rain water during this season, but when the sun starts shining shortly after; crops die and farmers lack drinking water. There is need to learn how to harvest rain water, store it and then use it when we need it,” he said.

He emphasized that the technology should descend down to the local farmers as they are the people worst hit by the vagaries of nature. He said the technology should go down to the Umudugudu level so that farmers could get the knowledge.

Similar work in Ethiopia, Lesotho and Kenya has already been done. Jean Damascene Maniraguha, coordinator of rainwater-harvesting technologies said the training brought together 30 district agronomists from throughout Eastern Province.

The training was organized by CUEP, a MINITERE’ project sponsored by African Bank of Development and Food and Agriculture Organization.

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