The government is set to develop 26 arable marshlands in the Southern Province that are not irrigated, as part of an effort to increase food production. The province consists of Huye, Ruhango, Nyamagabe, Gisagara, Muhanga, Kamonyi, Nyanza, and Nyaruguru districts. The 26 arable marshlands cover more than 3,500 hectares. ALSO READ: Farmers seek Rwf10 billion to rehabilitate irrigation facilities The Governor of Southern Province, Alice Kayitesi, told The New Times that the marshlands with agricultural potential have been identified for the next five-year plan. The marshlands will be rehabilitated by regulating water levels and improving soil conditions. This may involve draining excess water or adding irrigation systems. Some wetlands have fluctuating water levels, and by controlling this water, farmers can use the land for rice paddies or other crops that require standing water during part of their growth cycle. ALSO READ: Govt to save 1,700 ha Bugarama arable wetland from floods Technologies such as drainage ditches, levees, and pumps will help regulate water flow. According to the Governor, consistent water management is crucial for crops like rice, and some wetland areas will be carefully irrigated to allow plants to grow. “We are gradually developing arable marshlands as we build financial capacity. These 26 marshlands will be developed over the next five years. We are conducting a study to determine the budget cost,” she explained. “The crops to be prioritized will depend on the location of the marshlands. However, those that will primarily be prioritised include rice, maize, Irish potatoes, and vegetables,” she added. Kayitesi highlighted that soil erosion control measures will be applied on the surrounding hills to prevent erosion and floods that affect these arable wetlands. ALSO READ: Analysing Rwanda’s key crop yields in 2023 There are 14,439 hectares of arable wetlands in Southern Province, with over 7,000 hectares already developed. Marc Cyubahiro Bagabe, Rwanda’s Minister of Agriculture, said that only 55 per cent of the potential area for rice cultivation has been developed across the country. Rwanda targets to more than double its domestic rice production to 434,553 tonnes by 2030. The current national production meets only 22 per cent of total demand, with imports covering the remaining 78 per cent. ALSO READ: How can Rwanda bridge its rice production gap? Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB) has also announced plans to save the 1,753-hectare Bugarama arable wetland from recurrent floods that have plunged rice farmers into losses in Rusizi District. Plan to increase production The Governor of Southern Province indicated that under the plan, the use of quality seeds and fertilisers will be prioritised to ensure increased crop production. According to Rwanda’s rice value chain study, only 64 per cent of farmers use certified seeds, while 36 per cent rely on saved seeds. Over the past five years, the area under rice cultivation grew from 29,000 to 34,000 hectares, and paddy production increased from 116.5 to 141.9 thousand metric tons annually. The goal is to increase rice production per hectare from 4.09 tonnes in 2023 to 6.5 tonnes by 2030. Soil testing technology The Rwanda Soil Information System (RwaSIS), which indicates the fertilizers needed for each type of soil across the country, was also launched. The system has been developed for Irish potatoes and rice, complete with digital soil nutrient maps. Christine Uzasabimana, a farmer from Rugeramigozi marshland in Southern Province, said that in the past, farmers like her struggled to improve their productivity. “Over the past four years, we have been growing rice in the marshland, but we did not see any yield due to soil acidity. We didn’t understand the problem until RAB tested our soil and recommended fertilizers based on the results,” she said. She added that both soil testing and the development of wetlands for rice cultivation could significantly increase production. According to RAB, 70 arable wetlands need to be developed. The government is banking on schemes such as Commercialisation and De-Risking for Agricultural Transformation Project (CDAT), a $300 million financing facility to help implement the rehabilitation of irrigation systems on over 17,600 hectares, as well as land husbandry development on about 11,000 hectares. According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources, 30 arable marshlands will be developed in the next three years. Warufu marshland with around 3,000 hectares in Gatsibo District will be developed by the Commercialisation and De-Risking for Agricultural Transformation Project (CDAT). The same project will also develop the Mwogo marshland in four districts of Southern Province.
