On June 9th,2022, the Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board launched the Kayonza Irrigation and Integrated Watershed Management Project, Phase II (KIIWP-Phase 2), in Eastern Province, Kayonza District, Ndego Sector so as to rescue drought-affected citizens from hunger.
The KIIWP project aims at contributing to poverty reduction in the drought-prone Eastern Province of Rwanda. Its development objective is to sustainably improve the food security and income of 50,000 rural households and boost their climate resilience.
Speaking at the event, the Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources, Dr. Geraldine Mukeshimana said that the government intents to help beneficiaries to graduate from poverty in the shortest period.
“This is a big project, following serious drought related effects to farmers in Kayonza District. The government invested USD 80 million to respond to climate change effects on the Agriculture and Livestock farming. The project will help residents to graduate from the poverty line and tackle food insecurity in the area. We expect to have all the drought related challenges solved.” She said.
The first phase of Kayonza Irrigation and Integrated Watershed Management Project has been implemented since June 2019 with the cost of $20.93 million (about Rwf18.7 billion).
The second phase will cost $59 million, which is about Rwf53 billion. The project is funded by the International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD).