Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB) is training 312 Scheme Farmer Promoters (SFPs) from 19 irrigation schemes in a new capacity-building drive aimed at strengthening farmer-led management of irrigation infrastructure, boosting crop productivity and protecting the country's growing investment in irrigation. According to RAB, if farmers are equipped with the required skills, it could shift reliance of irrigation scheme on government support for routine maintenance to being managed by skilled farmers who can operate, repair and sustain the infrastructure themselves. The programme, implemented by Horticulture in Reality Corporation, is a shift from focusing primarily on expanding irrigation infrastructure to strengthening the capacity of farmers to manage it sustainably. The farmers will acquire practical skills to operate, maintain and repair irrigation systems before passing the knowledge on to fellow farmers. ALSO READ: How-irrigation-farming-is-changing-livelihoods-in-once-drought-prone-nasho These farmers will gain the knowledge needed to protect irrigation infrastructure such as reservoirs, pipelines and pumping stations. They will learn how to operate, maintain and repair these systems whenever problems arise, Jerome Hitayezu, Head of the Irrigation Department at RAB, said. He said the initiative is intended to build a stronger sense of ownership among farmers as Rwanda expands irrigated land under the National Strategy for Transformation (NST2), a five-year programme launched in 2024. “At the beginning of NST2, Rwanda had about 71,000 hectares under irrigation. By the end of the strategy, we aim to add another 60,000 hectares. These irrigation systems belong to the farmers, and we want them to take ownership of them,” he said. “Government should not have to keep returning to rehabilitate and maintain schemes that are already benefiting communities. Those resources should instead be invested in expanding irrigation to new areas. That is the culture of ownership we want to build through capacity-building programmes.” ALSO READ: 10-major-projects-to-boost-agriculture-production The month-long training will combine classroom instruction, field demonstrations and study tours, covering irrigation system operation and maintenance, good agricultural practices, integrated watershed management, cooperative governance, financial management, post-harvest handling, monitoring and evaluation, and conflict resolution. Emile Munyemana, an adviser at Horticulture in Reality Corporation, said the programme is designed to create a network of farmer trainers who will extend knowledge throughout their irrigation schemes. He added that beyond improving farmers' technical skills, the programme seeks to strengthen the long-term sustainability of irrigation schemes by encouraging Water Users Associations to finance routine maintenance through members' contributions. Munyemana said more than 3,000 hectares of irrigated land in Eastern Province will benefit from the initiative. We are already seeing encouraging examples. Some farmer groups have mobilised their own resources to construct small dams costing between Rwf6 million and Rwf8 million. That shows that when farmers have the knowledge and a sense of ownership, they are willing to invest in sustaining the irrigation systems they depend on, he said. According to farmers, the training offers an opportunity to learn how to increase productivity. Felicien Ntambara, a member of KABOKU Cooperative at the Rwentanga irrigation scheme in Nyagatare District, said improved agronomic knowledge could increase his maize yields. “For many years I harvested about seven tonnes of maize per hectare because I lacked sufficient knowledge of modern farming techniques,” Ntambara said. “After receiving training and seeing what other farmers have achieved, I believe I can increase my yield to 10 tonnes per hectare. Some farmers have already reached that level, which gives me confidence that it is possible.” ALSO READ: Govt-eyes-major-irrigation-push-to-boost-food-security The programme will be rolled out across irrigation schemes in Nyagatare, Kirehe, Bugesera, Ngoma, Kayonza, Rwamagana, Gasabo, Rulindo, Burera, Gakenke, Musanze and Kicukiro districts. Officials expect the initiative to improve irrigation management, strengthen Water Users Associations and translate into higher crop yields, more efficient water use and greater resilience to climate change. The selected farmers will train fellows who operate on nearly 6,000 hectares of irrigated land.
