Valeria Musabyimana used to struggle with crop productivity due to the climate crisis. However, with the adoption of technology in agriculture, she has been able to increase her crop yield and earn a significant income, allowing her to provide a better life for her children. Kirehe district in Rwanda previously faced food insecurity due to limited access to modern farming methods and equipment, unpredictable weather patterns, and inadequate knowledge of sustainable farming practices. But with the help of technology, the district has been able to increase crop yields, improve food security, and boost the income of farmers. Precision farming techniques such as soil testing and crop monitoring have enabled farmers to optimize their use of resources and increase productivity. ALSO READ: Nasho Irrigation Scheme boosts farmers’ yields Musabyimana is a member of the NAICO cooperative, which comprises 2,000 members who plant maize on more than 1,000 hectares in Nasho under an irrigation scheme project that was launched by Paul Kagame and Howard Graham Buffet three years ago. The project aims to alleviate the population from overlapping climate crises causing shocks and stressors that slowed or reversed food productivity in their region and boost farmers' yields. According to the district mayor, Bruno Rangira, by embracing technology in farming, the district has moved from being a hunger-affected district to a food-secure district despite being affected by severe droughts. Farmers in the Nasho irrigation project have raised their maize produce to an average of 6.7 tons per hectare and 2 tons of soya bean respectively since they started irrigating. The district has 15,000 hectares of irrigated land, with more hectares in Mahama, Mpanga, and Nyamugali sectors in the district expected to benefit 35,000 households. Phoromina Nyirangirmana is another beneficiary whose success story began when the project relocated her from the buffer zone and gave her cows. She has been able to build a house in the city center of Nasho by selling milk and maize produce, and she plans to rent out the two-room house to increase her earnings. Along with other 146 families, they now live in 4-in-1 homes in their model village of Nasho and receive livestock that provides milk and manure for the farmlands. Technology has also helped farmers link with actors in the value chain. The Smart Nkunganire tech tool has helped farmers in the area connect with stakeholders in the supply chain, allowing them to increase productivity and manage their farms more efficiently. Farmers can now log in to a Smart Nkunganire portal and order fertilizers, and agro-dealers don't have to waste time negotiating prices while ordering agro-inputs. This has helped farmers to be served on time and plan for the season accordingly. Rwanda targets to irrigate 102,284 hectares in 2024; the current total of irrigated area is 67,100 hectares, composed of 20,388 hectares of small-scale irrigation, 9,439 hectares of hillside, and 37,273 hectares of marshlands. With the help of technology, Kirehe district is driving the agenda towards a hunger-free future.
