Farmers living along the shores of Lake Sake in Ngoma District are calling for urgent investment in irrigation infrastructure, saying the vast water body beside their fields should be powering year-round agricultural production. Each dry season, maize and bean fields wither under the intense Eastern Province sun, even as Lake Sake remains full. For residents of Sake Sector and neighbouring areas, the contrast is stark. “We are surrounded by water, but we farm under unpredictable weather,” said Jean Damascène Nkurunziza, a smallholder farmer who lives near the lake. “When the rains delay or stop early, we lose everything. If irrigation were available, we could harvest throughout the year.” Farmers say irrigation would enable them to move beyond subsistence farming into market-oriented production, particularly of high-value crops such as vegetables and fruits that perform well under controlled watering. Vestine Mukeshimana, who cultivates less than a hectare, believes irrigation could double or even triple her output. “Right now, I harvest about 200 kilograms of beans and depend entirely on rainfall,” she said. “With irrigation, I would farm during the dry season and sell vegetables when prices are high. That is how we can improve our incomes.” Ngoma District Mayor Nathalie Niyonagira said the district acknowledges the urgency and is working with technical partners to assess irrigation potential around Lake Sake. “We cannot continue relying solely on rain when we have a lake at our disposal,” Niyonagira said, adding that the district is collaborating with the Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board to identify feasible irrigation zones and mobilise resources. She noted that expanding irrigation aligns with the district’s broader strategy to modernise agriculture, boost productivity and strengthen food security. “Our farmers are hardworking. What they need is infrastructure,” she said. Officials at RAB say irrigation expansion is central to Rwanda’s climate-resilient agriculture agenda. Eng. Anselme Rwigamba, Director of the Ngoma RAB station, said districts with accessible water bodies such as Lake Sake are a priority. “Ngoma has clear potential because of Lake Sake and the surrounding arable land,” Rwigamba said. “Our focus is on sustainable, cost-effective irrigation systems that allow farmers to produce consistently, regardless of rainfall patterns.” According to RAB data, more than 75,000 hectares nationwide are already under irrigation, with a target of exceeding 100,000 hectares by 2026. The expansion prioritises drought-prone districts, particularly in the Eastern Province. Agriculture remains the backbone of Ngoma’s economy, but recurring dry spells continue to suppress yields, reduce household incomes and heighten vulnerability to climate shocks. Farmers argue that bringing irrigation closer to their communities would largely involve extending pipelines, pumps and small-scale systems to fields already within reach of the lake. “If irrigation comes, we won’t just feed our families—we will supply markets in Kigali and beyond,” Nkurunziza said. “We want to move from surviving to producing at scale.” With fertile soils and favourable conditions, land around Lake Sake is known for high yields of pineapples, maize, beans and bananas. Residents say that if the lake’s water is fully harnessed, the area could become one of the country’s key food-producing zones.
