More than 23,000 families have received food assistance following prolonged dry spells in parts of Kayonza District, officials have confirmed. ALSO READ: Kayonza mayor, two officials dismissed Figures obtained by The New Times indicate that more than 97,951 people from over 23,000 families have been supported with food in Ndego, Rwinkwavu, Kabare and Mwili — sectors most hit by the dry spell. The data shows that more than 791,000 kilogrammes of maize flour have already been distributed in addition to 325,000 kilogrammes of beans. Affected residents like Amos Dusengimana, a father of three, said that prolonged dry spells continue to stress communities in the district due to crop failure, resulting in a lot of people now relying on food from outside the district. ALSO READ: How domestic reserves helped address food shortages “There is a need for irrigation projects in the region to address this drought-induced food insecurity affecting many households, he said. On November 7, all three members of Kayonza District Executive Committee – namely Mayor John Bosco Nyemazi; Vice Mayor in charge of Economic Development, Hope Munganyinka; and Jean Damascene Harelimana, who was in charge of Social Affairs, were dismissed over what the district council described as poor service delivery. The Chairperson of Kayonza District Council, Doreen Kalimba, said that their dismissal was related to “their failure to find a proper response to problems affecting citizens, resulting from droughts.” According to Kalimba, cells near Akagera National Park are the areas most prone to drought, and “at the end of each year, residents here are supported with food due to the long dry season. ALSO READ: Rwanda’s longest drought in six decades: The effects on food security and lessons learnt She noted that the food aid is provided in collaboration with various district partners, while the district coordinates the overall emergency response. She stated that ongoing irrigation projects will help communities become more resilient once completed. The New Times has learnt that the food support started being provided to the affected residents from November 30. Overall, the assistance consists of maize and beans. According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources, the national strategic grain reserve maintains “adequate” food to support people in need, who suffer from food shortages caused by circumstances such as drought. Not all parts of Kayonza are affected by the same problem Agnes Mukamana, Chairperson of KOISORWA, a cooperative of maize and soya farmers in Murundi sector, told The New Times there was just a short dry period, but rain eventually came. The cooperative grew maize on 30 hectares in a marshland, which she said were thriving well and had already developed corn ears. For beans, she said, some people are about to harvest them, adding that some had started eating fresh beans. The production might slightly decrease due to the short drought that occurred, but we expect a good harvest overall, she said. The cooperative uses irrigation for crops on the marshland, thanks to solar-powered equipment provided under government support.
