Rice production in the Mishenyi marshland, located in Gatsibo District, is set to increase more than fourfold following the launch of a major climate resilience project worth 17 million and 165 thousand US dollars (25,069,051,887 Frw). The project, titled Agricultural Climate Resilience and Green Jobs Creation for Youth in Rural Communities (CRCSP), was officially launched on March 27 in Gatsibo District. It aims to address the challenges of drought and prolonged dry seasons affecting Kabarore and Gitoki sectors, where farmers have faced significant losses due to lack of rainfall.
The President of the Kabeza Rice Farmers’ Cooperative (KARIDECO), Leopold Munyambibi, highlighted that this project represents a significant opportunity for farmers who have long struggled with low yields caused by the July drought.
Munyambibi cited the hardships of 2023, when severe drought resulted in a harvest of only 90 tons instead of the expected 380 tons, forcing many farmers to rely on government food aid. Currently, farmers in this marshland depend on only two streams, leaving 100 hectares uncultivable during the second planting season of the year due to water scarcity.
“Today, the arrival of this project gives us great hope that water will be available year-round, thereby significantly increasing our production and transforming the lives of the citizens,” stated Leopold Munyambibi. The project will span four years (2026–2029) and is expected to directly assist over 6,250 families. It focuses on implementing modern irrigation systems, constructing a water dam, establishing storage and market infrastructure, and helping youth and women secure green jobs.
Claudine Nyirabihoyiki, a rice grower in the marshland, emphasized the socio economic impact of the project on her household. Nyirabihoyiki stated “Today, with irrigation on the way, she is expecting a complete shift in her life, from higher productivity to improved household income, better access to health insurance, and the ability to support her children’s education.”
Samueli Niyibishaka, a father of three who has previously struggled with the volatility of rain fed agriculture. Niyibishaka noted “With the rehabilitation of Mishenyi Marshland, he is looking forward to stronger food security, increased production, and the chance to build savings that can support his family long-term.”
The Mayor of Gatsibo District, Gasana Richard, noted that the project’s budget is nearly equivalent to half of the entire district’s budget, which is why they aim to expand the cultivated area to 700 hectares.
Mayor Gasana emphasized their excitement that the project will build irrigation canals, create radical terraces, and increase rice yields from 5 or 6 tons to 8 tons per hectare. This will enable farmers to earn an annual income of 2.8 billion Rwandan francs, elevating the KARIDECO cooperative to the level of major cooperatives such as Ntende, Bugarama, Mukunguri, Muvumba, Agasasa, Cyiri, and those of Rwasave.
The project is funded by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), the Government of Rwanda, and the World Food Programme (WFP), The WFP Representative in Rwanda, Andrea Bagnoli, stated that the partnership between KOICA and the Rwandan government has yielded tangible results in previous projects, where every dollar invested generated a return of 2.8 dollars. Bagnoli remarked, “This demonstrates that the people are taking the lead and have long-term plans. We are therefore committed to ensuring that CRCSP delivers sustainable benefits to the citizens.”
The Country Director of KOICA in Rwanda, Kim Jinhwa, used a Korean proverb stating that “a farmer’s hope is written in the soil, but it cannot be achieved without water and human hands.”
Kim Jinhwa emphasized that the 10-year partnership between Korea and Rwanda continues, now entering a third phase focused on integrating rural development with the second Strategy for National Transformation (NST2). Kim Jinhwa indicated plans to blend the Korean ‘Saemaul Undong’ approach with Rwanda’s ‘Umuganda’ to strengthen cooperatives, emphasizing the desire for Gatsibo to become a model of development for the country and the entire region.
