SUPPORT TO FARMERS WITH SOLAR IRRIGATION ALLOWS FARMINGALL-YEAR-ROUND

Development of Small-Scale Irrigation Technologies (SSIT) using solar energy can help stallholders from areas with a long dry season to sustainably increase their crop productivity all year around with additional benefits of a reduced cost of production, increased incomes and conservationoftheenvironment.

Following the establishment by the USAID Hinga Weze activity of Small-Scale Irrigation Schemes (SSIT) for water access on over 175 hectares owned by 432 farmers in the districts of Bugesera (95 ha), Kayonza (20 ha), Gatsibo (40 ha) and Ngoma (20 ha), Hinga Weze proceeded with coaching the irrigation schemes’ beneficiaries to ensure sustainable yield increases, reliable markets and good nutrition for farmer beneficiaries.

As a result of the SSIT and the integrated coaching and infrastructure development on the irrigated sites, the beneficiary farmers immediately started earning increased incomes from their small plots, most of which had been nonproductive before the Hinga Weze intervention.

A simple example of the benefit of solar-powered SSIT in dry areas is provided by farmer Jean Claude SINDIKUBWABO of Bugesera District, who managed to earn an additional $3,030 a year from his .26 ha plot within a single farming season. This was a 125% increase over his income of the previous season.

As an example of the success of the SSIT approach, Jean Claude of the Kamabuye SSIT site benefited significantly from the valorization of the site as there was now plenty of water available for this newly-planted horticulture crops. This had been impossible before theHinga Wezeintervention due to the excessive dry period each summer. The improved water availability on the site coupled with regular coaching in agricultural and climate-smart best practices improved his access to markets and agricultural inputs.

“I can now make over RWF 3,000,000 (USD 3,030) from my small plot just in a single farming season thereby making me able to pay for school fees for my children, pay health insurance for my entire family, and buy other foodstuffs needed, and keep doing my farming business as usual, thanks to Hinga Weze.’’

- Jean Claude SINDIKUBWABO, a farmer in Bugesera district

Through this agricultural success, Jean Claude is currently implementing a non-stop farming system (three seasons per year) on his plot, thereby increasing his income from his small amount of land. Before the Hinga Weze interventions at the Kamabuye SSIT site, Jean Claude used to grow maize in rotation with beans and was unable to intercrop or to plant horticultural crops. Now he is a step closer to being a professional, commercial farmer with a bright future for him and his family.