For generations, many farmers have believed that a well-prepared field is one that is deeply tilled, weed-free and cleared of all crop residues after harvest.

But beneath this familiar practice lies a growing challenge: soil degradation.

Across the country, years of intensive tillage, field clearing and occasional burning of crop residues have contributed to declining soil fertility, reduced moisture retention and lower yields despite increased fertiliser use, according to agricultural experts.

Heavy rains wash away nutrient-rich topsoil from exposed fields, while intense sunlight dries out moisture needed for crop growth. Over time, farmland becomes less productive, forcing farmers to invest more while harvesting less.

Agricultural experts warn that this threatens one of Rwanda’s most valuable resources—its limited agricultural land.

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They argue that the future of farming depends not on working the soil harder, but on protecting it through conservation agriculture.

The approach promotes core principles of conservation agriculture: minimum tillage, permanent soil cover using crop residues, crop rotation, quality seeds and efficient water management to improve soil health, productivity and farmers’ incomes.

Learning before teaching

At the Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture (RICA), trainees gather around conservation agriculture demonstration plots showcasing different farming approaches.

Plots under conventional till show how intensive tillage leads to soil erosion and nutrients depletion, affecting yields, while plots under conservation agriculture demonstrate how different practices improve soil health over time.

Now, as Rwanda gears up to roll out Conservation Agriculture (CA) nationwide, RICA is helping build the capacity needed to turn this ambition into action. At the start, the Institute has trained MINAGRI’s scientists, RAB Stations managers across the country, districts’ directors of agriculture. Trainings and discussions like these were intentionally designed to equip nurture the right mindset toward conservation agriculture practices, ahead of the national CA roll out.

The trainees, who also include district agronomists, agriculture supervisors, environmental officers, Crop Intensification Programme focal persons, extension officers and young agricultural professionals—are being prepared to take these lessons to farming communities.

Rather than training every farmer directly, RICA and its partners are equipping the people farmers depend on for agricultural advice.

The training is part of the Mainstreaming and Scaling-up Conservation Agriculture in Rwanda&039;s Extension Services Project, a four-year initiative running from 2026 to 2029.

Implemented jointly by the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI), the Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB) and RICA, the project aims to accelerate adoption of conservation agriculture from Season A of 2027, starting in September.

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For Léonce Harerimana, Director of Extension and Irrigation, and Water Management Lecturer at RICA, the institution’s role goes beyond teaching farming techniques.

"As an institution dedicated to conservation agriculture, climate resilience and sustainable farming on small pieces of land, we promote minimum tillage, permanent soil cover, crop rotation, quality seed use, efficient irrigation and fertiliser,” he said.

"Our mission is to ensure these practices go beyond the campus. We want farmers across Rwanda to embrace conservation agriculture because it protects the soil while improving productivity."

Changing farming mindsets

Changing long-held farming habits remains one of the biggest challenges.

For many farmers, removing all crop residues and leaving fields clean after harvest has traditionally been viewed as good farming practice.

Harerimana said some common practices can, however, damage soil health.

"Sometimes we dig too deeply because that is what we have always done. But excessive tillage makes the soil more vulnerable to erosion. Many farmers also believe that a clean field is a good field, so they remove every residue after harvesting. Yet those residues are exactly what help protect the soil and improve its fertility as they decompose into organic matter with time," he said.

Instead of burning or removing crop residues, conservation agriculture encourages farmers to leave them on the soil surface, where they act as natural mulch, reducing evaporation, suppressing weeds and restoring organic matter.

The approach also promotes efficient fertiliser use rather than simply applying more.

"Sometimes farmers apply more fertiliser thinking it will increase production. But what matters is applying the right quantity in the right way while maintaining healthy soils," Harerimana said.

Protecting soil, improving yields

According to Christian Nkurunziza, Conservation Agriculture Promotion Project Manager at MINAGRI, conservation agriculture protects soil through three main principles: minimum tillage, permanent soil cover and recycling nutrients through crop residues and crop diversification.

"Conservation agriculture is a type of farming that protects the soil through minimum tillage, recycles nutrients through crop residues, and protects crops by maintaining soil cover. As a result, plants grow under more favourable conditions, and agricultural production naturally increases."

He said conventional farming often leaves soil exposed, increasing erosion and the loss of nutrients needed for crop growth.

The benefits of conservation agriculture, he added, are increasingly supported by evidence.

Nkurunziza said studies indicated that maize yields under conservation agriculture can increase by around 40 per cent, while bean production can rise by approximately 70 per cent.

At the same time, conventional farming loses more than twice as much soil through erosion compared with conservation agriculture.

For Rwanda, where farmland is limited and agriculture remains central to livelihoods and food security, protecting soil is becoming as important as increasing production.

Taking the lessons to farmers

Among those preparing to bring these lessons to communities is Vivine Umubyeyi, a professional intern who will work under MINAGRI in Kirehe District.

She said the training has changed both her understanding of farming and how she plans to engage with farmers.

"I acquired training in conservation agriculture and I understand how it works and how it can positively affect farmers' yields while protecting our soils. I will use these skills to help farmers practice conservation agriculture. Most importantly, I want them to understand why these methods work so they willingly adopt them."

Her experience reflects the programme’s broader goal: achieving lasting change by helping farmers understand the benefits of new practices.

The project has so far trained district agronomists, extension officers, environmental officers and Crop Intensification Programme focal persons. On 22 July 2026, 52 young professionals from across the country were added to the number of trainees, with plans to reach 889 technicians who will support implementation.

Aligning with Rwanda’s plan to expand conservation agriculture to 600,000 hectares by 2029

The initiative targets Rwanda's major food-basket sites as entry point. Already, conservation agriculture has been integrated into existing programmes such as land consolidation and the Fifth Strategic Plan for Agriculture Transformation (PSTA 5), which runs until 2029.

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The initiative aims to expand conservation agriculture to 100,000 hectares for the Season 2027 A, increase coverage to 150,000 hectares in the following season and ultimately reach 600,000 hectares by the end of the four-year programme.

Priority crops include maize, beans, Irish potatoes and soybeans.

As Rwanda’s population grows while farmland remains limited, increasing agricultural productivity without exhausting natural resources is becoming one of the country’s biggest farming priorities.