Each year, over 150 countries around the world hold events to mark World Food Day, making it one of the most celebrated international days. But this year’s World Food Day is no ordinary day. It comes as the world continues to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, which has exposed the fragility of our agri-food systems; threatens to push millions more into hunger; has made many of us rekindle our appreciation for food. This year’s World Food Day also comes as the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) turns 75. In the 75 years since the founding of FAO, the world has made great progress in the fight against poverty, hunger, and malnutrition. Agricultural productivity and agri-food systems have come a long way. With the theme “Grow, nourish, sustain. Together. Our actions are our future”, World Food Day 2020 calls for more resilient and robust agri-food systems, and for global solidarity - both vital for our recovery from this crisis, and for building back better. More than ever, we need innovative solutions and strong partnerships. In Rwanda, FAO has been implementing projects to support production of healthy and nutritious food, and ensuring effective water use management. FAO delivers Rulindo’s first solar-powered irrigation system Rulindo is a farming district with priority given to horticultural crops such as, cassava, maize, beans, Irish potatoes, wheat, and green peas. Some farmers do need adequate water for irrigation. However, vegetable growers in Yanze catchment, Ngoma sector in Rulindo district face the challenge of access to water from Yanze River whose water is also shared by Rwanda’s capital Kigali for domestic use. FAO is currently implementing in the district the KnoWat project “Knowing water better: Towards a more equitable and sustainable access to natural resources to achieve food security” with the financial support from the German Federal Ministry for Food and Agriculture. The project is working with the local government of the Rulindo district and communities to address water allocation and productive water uses in the Yanze basin which provides part of the water supply of Kigali city. Through the project the district received solar-powered irrigation systems. Three ENOS/Sunlight solar pumps and accessories were delivered to farmers grouped under the Yanze Horticulture Production Cooperative (YAHOPROC) of vegetable growers in the Yanze catchment. The cooperative was formed in 2015, with 199 members – 131 women and 68 men – at present. They sell most of their produce to Kigali city buyers. Apart from increasing productivity of the crops, the technology will reduce the heavy work load related to irrigation for farmers especially women. This is the first time solar-powered irrigation system has been introduced in Rulindo district. “We’re excited to use the sunlight solar pumps. The natural solar energy used is easy to generate from the sun. Secondly, unlike other irrigation equipment like motorized pumps, farmers don’t have to incur expenses to buy fuel to run the solar irrigation system,” said Olive Uwizeyimana, a vegetable farmer. “We’ve been using treadle pumps that require at least three people to peddle and irrigate. This has been a challenge for women to peddle the treadles, as it requires a lot of energy. Sometimes you have to wait for a man to help you peddle to be able to irrigate. The solar-powered irrigation is easy to use, you just turn it on and start irrigating. I can even irrigate my crops without the help of the man,” said Marie Chantal Akingeneye. Solar-powered irrigation is reliable, affordable and climate-friendly as the energy is produced from the renewable source. The system also caters for water productivity. The farmers were given basic training on using this technology. Strengthening capacities in pesticide safe use in Tomato and Irish potato production in Rwanda Rwanda’s agriculture has experienced tremendous development thanks to national efforts to transform the sector under the Crop Intensification Program (CIP). This growth though has seen an increase in input use including fertilizers and pesticides. FAO is implementing a Technical Cooperation Programme Facility (TCPf) project “Promotion of safer alternatives to Severely Hazardous Pesticides Formulations (SHPFs) and creation of Organic crops producers Cooperatives for sale as income generating activity in Rwanda” to promote a healthy, sustainable and hazardous pesticides-free agriculture at national level. It is in line with the implementation of the Rotterdam Convention to which Rwanda is a party. Using the farmer field schools (FFS) approach, demonstration plots were established to help farmers learn the correct use of pesticides through Integrated Pest Management (IPM). Through adoption of IPM, farmers are recommended to judiciously apply chemical pesticides, bio-pesticides and other safer alternatives. Over twenty four (24) farmers in Musanze and Rulindo districts are being trained all through this Agriculture Season 2021A (September to February) until harvest, in integrated pest management (IPM) as the appropriate and safer alternative to Severely Hazardous Pesticides Formulations (SHPFs). Farmers organized in FFS groups learn how to apply pesticides rationally as well as use of bio-pesticides in managing key pests and diseases of tomato and Irish potato. IPM emphasizes the growth of a healthy crop with the least possible disruption to agro-ecosystems and encourages natural pest control mechanisms. The project is focusing on potato and tomato because these are key crops in Rwanda seriously affected by pests and diseases and thus prompting excessive use of pesticides some of which may be hazardous. “Many potato farmers here in Musanze use chemical pesticides. I didn’t know that bio-pesticides exist. The training exposed me to this new and useful knowledge. I will surely implement it on my field,” says Violette Masimbi Mwimvira, a potato farmer in Musanze district. The presence of herbs used in the bio-control of tomato and Irish potato presents a potential of promoting biological control methods among the farmers and an opportunity to invest in planting the herbs. Farmers planting Irish potatoes in Musanze, in a demo plot for learning the correct use of pesticides through integrated pest management. ©FAO/Teopista Mutesi
