Rwandan farmers in the western district of Rulindo do not have a good supply of drinking water. This affects their yields and limits them in agricultural crops. So, To improve the management of this vital resource, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) built six water basins to help local farmers in the Yanze Horticultural Production Cooperative (YAHOPROC)
Water is the primary resource for plant development. Thus, agricultural yields undoubtedly depend on its timely availability. In Rwanda, Yanze River is the main source of water in the western district of Rulindo. This source has a diversity of consumers including the inhabitants of Kigali, the capital; rural communities and farmers in the district. Indeed, given the number of consumers and the scarcity of rainfall, farmers, most of whom are vegetable producers, have very limited access to water. However, they need them all the time, especially for horticultural production.
The special FAO facility
To help farmers cope, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has built six water ponds specifically for local farmers in the Yanze Horticultural Production Cooperative (YAHOPROC). The method consists of collecting water from the river in ponds and then transporting it from the ponds to the fields by three solar-powered pumps. The system provides a constant source of water that is distributed evenly to all fields, including those that are the most difficult to reach due to uneven terrain. This strategy has galvanised agricultural production, especially garden crops, because even in the dry season, thanks to the devices, the machines pump water automatically.
Read also: 9th World Water Forum in Senegal: Macky Sall warns about the scarcity of water resources
According to Josepha Mukamana, FAO RWEE Project Manager “After seeing how the members of the cooperative do not have clean water, the idea of killing two birds with one stone came up. Now they can irrigate their crops and get clean water for sanitation and nutrition. For the UN agency, providing water and much more than drinking water to people is a major challenge This is what FAO and the UN are all about. To ensure that we add our modest contribution to what can make the lives of rural women conducive to the fulfilment of their potential. Access to water removes a barrier to agricultural production for rural women. They can grow crops, raise livestock and even produce fish, whatever the season. They provide their families with healthy food and even improve their income. explained Gualbert Gbehounou, FAO Representative in Rwanda.
Moreover, it should be recalled that the scarcity of water resources has been the subject of reflection since last Monday at the 9th World Water Forum in Senegal. Many heads of state and international institutions are on board to find adequate solutions to the problems of lack of drinking water in the world.
