Reaping Hope from the Drought: Kayonza Farmers Find Resilience Through KIIWP2

In the sun-scorched plains of Kayonza District in Rwanda’s Eastern Province, farmers like Nyirarukundo Gloriose and Nyandwi Pascal are cultivating more than just crops—they are nurturing resilience and hope. The Kayonza Irrigation and Integrated Watershed Management Project-Phase II (KIIWP2) aims to transform the lives of these farmers by addressing the region’s chronic drought and high poverty levels.

Gloriose Nyirarukundo, a farmer in the Terimbere Muhinzi Ndego Byimana Cooperative

Gloriose, a dedicated farmer from Ndego Sector, Byimana Cell, Kabeza Village, is part of the Terimbere Cooperative Muhinzi Ndego Byimana. This cooperative focuses on growing beans, fruits, vegetables, and potatoes. Reflecting on the severe drought that struck in 2018, Gloriose recalls the dire circumstances they faced. “The sun we went through in 2017-2018 was devastating. But the government and our partners stepped in, teaching us irrigation techniques that have since made a significant difference,” he says.

The introduction of irrigation systems marked a turning point for these farmers. “Even though it is still dry, it is not like before,” Gloriose notes. The partnership with KIIWP2 has been particularly impactful. “They bring us seeds on time, provide compost, and support us in various ways,” he adds, highlighting the cooperative’s progress and growing success.

Nyandwi Pascal, also from Ndego Sector, serves as both a farmer and the director of the Terimbere Cooperative. He echoes Gloriose’s sentiments about the transformative impact of irrigation. “Ndego is a place where there is a lot of sun. Before we started to irrigate, farming was a constant struggle against the erratic rain. We were on the brink of bankruptcy. But once we received the irrigation system from our partners, our production increased significantly,” Pascal explains.

Pascal Nyandwi, Head of Terimbere Muhinzi Ndego Byimana Cooperative

The broader vision of KIIWP2, as articulated by its Operation Manager Uwitonze Theogene, is to mitigate the severe effects of climate change and recurrent droughts that have plagued the district for years. “In 2016, the district suffered from malnutrition and insufficient food. Livestock died of dehydration, and forests dried up,” Theogene recounts. These dire conditions underscored the urgent need for a comprehensive project to address drought, boost crop yields, and link production to markets.

KIIWP2 is committed to improving food security and incomes for at least 40,000 rural households, comprising 180,000 individuals. Women make up 50% of the beneficiaries, while youth and young adults account for 30%. The project spans nine drought-prone sectors of Kayonza District, including Gahini, Kabare, Kabarondo, Murama, Murundi, Mwiri, Ndego, Ruramira, and Rwinkwavu.

The initiative’s multifaceted approach harnesses the region’s untapped water resources to enhance crop production, build climate resilience, and bolster food security and nutrition. Theogene emphasizes that KIIWP2 was born out of the district’s dire need for sustainable solutions to the challenges posed by climate change and drought.

For farmers like Gloriose and Pascal, the project has been a lifeline, transforming their agricultural practices and, by extension, their lives. As they till their fields and harvest their crops, they do so with a renewed sense of hope and stability, confident that their partnership with KIIWP2 will continue to yield fruitful results.

In the arid landscapes of Kayonza, the seeds of resilience are being sown, promising a future where farmers no longer fear the drought but stand ready to overcome it with sustainable practices and unwavering determination.