Overview and objectives

Summary:

The Eastern Province (EP) is the driest region of Rwanda and prone to a high level of degradation leading to poor land productivity. Agriculture is practiced by the majority of the population…

The Eastern Province (EP) is the driest region of Rwanda and prone to a high level of degradation leading to poor land productivity. Agriculture is practiced by the majority of the population. Increased frequency and magnitude of recurrent droughts and floods, and more erratic precipitation, both caused by climate change, are resulting in degraded lands, stressed food insecurity levels for poor households negatively impacting their livelihoods, and loss of biodiversity. The overall goal of this project is to transform the drought-degraded Eastern province into restored, productive and climate-resilient ecosystems and communities through promoting best forestry and agroforestry practices.

Objective:

The project intends to restore 60,000 ha of drought-degraded landscapes into climate resilient ecosystems through re-forestation, agroforestry, restoration of pasturelands, and soil erosion control…

The project intends to restore 60,000 ha of drought-degraded landscapes into climate resilient ecosystems through re-forestation, agroforestry, restoration of pasturelands, and soil erosion control measures in the Eastern Province of Rwanda. Irrigation infrastructures in the targeted landscapes of the eastern province will be climate-proofed by the project. These projects under MINAGRI could include Export Targeted Modern Irrigation (ETI) in Mpanga (600 ha) and Mahama (1200 ha), Kayonza Irrigation and Integrated Watershed management Project in Kayonza (2000 ha), Warufu- Mugesera in Gatsibo and Ngoma as well as Rurambi dyke in Bugesera.

In addition, the project will promote improved clean and efficient cooking energy technologies to more than 100,000 households in the Eastern Province of Rwanda. The project will also develop climate resilient markets and supply chains to incentivize public and private investments in forests, rangelands and agroforestry. The agriculture value chains that face key constraints at different stages will be supported. For instance, the project on sustainable agricultural intensification and food security project implemented by MINAGRI could be supported to increase agricultural productivity, market access, and food security of the targeted beneficiaries in the Eastern Province of Rwanda. Some of the agricultural value chains to be supported could include banana, beans, maize, and dairy commodities.

The project will finally support the national and local institutions to effectively plan, manage and monitor climate adaptation outcomes from improved land use at national and decentralized levels.