Improved practices, higher yields
The benefits of the approach are increasingly obvious: better sharing of water and improved farming practices have led to an increase in productivity; the seasonal rice harvest increased from 1 tonne per hectare to an incredible 5.8 tonnes per hectare. The farmers also gained skills in business management and a wider access to markets. “Today we harvest more to sell beyond our district; we have signed contracts with buyers in Kigali,” said Athanase.
In addition to CDAIS transformative work, the FAO Representative in Rwanda, Gualbert Gbehounou has encouraged Rwandan farmers to adopt innovative practices such as drip irrigation and planting hybrid seeds varieties that have low water consumption. Such new practices will further ensure that existing water resources increase productivity.
An approach that works
The CDAIS project used a participatory and continuous learning approach to improve functional capacities – ‘soft skills’ – in the Nyagatare district.
“The CDAIS approach brings together key stakeholders to assess capacity development needs with the aim of promoting innovation that meets the needs of small farmers, local agribusiness and consumers,” highlights Selvaraju Ramasamy, the Head of FAO’s Research and Extension Unit.
The CDAIS project was implemented by FAO and Agrinatura in eight countries (Angola, Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Honduras, Rwanda and Laos). The approach and the key element remain the same for all countries: providing a space for local smallholders to talk, innovate and address issues together, for the benefit of everyone.
The overall objective of CDAIS is to make agricultural innovation systems more efficient and sustainable while also understanding the realities of farmers, agri-business and consumers – which in turn helps improve food security and end hunger, a fundamental Sustainable Development Goal.
COVID-19 effect on Rwandan farmers
Like in so many countries around the word, COVID-19 has changed the situation in Rwanda. Farmers had to divert the money they would have invested in agricultural activities into helping their families meet their more immediate needs.
Yussuf Nkurizabo, now leading CDAIS’ multi-stakeholder partnership, states, “During the COVID-19 lockdown, it was not easy to get our produce to a market. We grew tomatoes, pumpkins and other vegetables, but they ended up rotting in the gardens.”
Both transportation and reaching customers were challenges. Nkurizabo continues, “We don't have permanent customers. We usually go to Kigali City to look for clients, but this time it was not possible. Even the clients we had, during that time left us because we couldn't get the supplies to them.”
Of about 5 tonnes of fruits and vegetables normally harvested per hectare, during this period only 3 tonnes were harvest. The remaining tonnes went to waste.
The challenge now is restarting these agricultural activities: "Even as the lockdown has been lifted, we're yet to stabilize financially. We don't have enough capital to reinvest in the farming activities. We need to work again with markets,” concludes Nkurizabo.
FAO is currently conducting a baseline on water efficiency and use. After the intervention, improvement in water efficiency will be measured. FAO is encouraging farmers to use cultivable command areas to recover from the losses brought on by COVID-19.
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