Kirehe farmers celebrate achievements of Community-based Watershed Management Project

Residents of Kirehe District and local officials have celebrated achievements attained over the last 7 years in agriculture sector thanks to support from Community-based Watershed Management Project (KWAMP) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI) as the project closes successfully its activities in the district. The project officially closed on December 21, 2016.

KWAMP, funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) from April 2009 to December 2016, operated in 12 districts of Kirehe District and the project supported in empowering rural farmers and improving livelihoods of Kirehe residents.

According to Claver Gasirabo, KWAMP Coordinator, the project exceeded targets; reaching 72,128 households with the investments of USD 55,236,887 over the last 7 years.

Among the achievements, the official pointed out, the project has contributed to the extensions of Kirehe District offices, creation and strengthening of 80 farmer cooperatives, supported 28 business plans through Value chain development Fund, irrigation on 1,819.5 ha of which 701.5 ha of marshland and 1,118 ha of hillside. The project also contributed to the provision of 3,720 improved cattle, 1,821 pigs and 2937 meat goats and 357 milking goats. And 234 para-vets have been trained to manage the distributed livestock.

Vestine Ntakirutimana, one of the project beneficiaries, says she now has a 3200-poultry farm generating 2000 eggs every day thanks to initial support she got from KWAMP.

The projects also provided alternative energy while promoting environment protection mechanisms: 451 biogas units of which 310 flexi and 141 fixed domes have been set up and promoting home grow solutions to the farmers, and developed radical terraces in kirehe district on 652Ha while 18556 have been protected against erosion through progress terraces KWAMP also provide the soil restoration systems more that 13 million of agro-forestry tress have been planted in irrigation infrastructures management 19 water uses organizations have been created and trained on operation and maintenance of irrigation schemes of which 11 water users organizations have been signed irrigation Management Transfer Agreement (IMTA) in support to commercialization of agricultural production 76,4 of feeder roads and 7 small bridges have been constructed.

The project also supported the promotion of capacity building in locally promoted value chains including horticulture, rice, maize, beans banana and coffee.

Minister of State in charge of agriculture in the Ministry of Agriculture and Animals Resources, Fulgence Nsengiyumva, commended the great achievements of KWAMP in kirehe district over the last 7 years, and urged farmers to keep sustaining the infrastructure facilities developed by the project in a bid to modernize their farming activities. The Minister of State also pledged the ministry’s collaboration to make sure that local farmers maximize yields from agricultural facilities developed by the project.

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