Inadequate water supply and poor irrigation systems are hampering rice production in Jabana Sector, Gasabo District, farmers have said. 

Marc Ntibashirigorora, the vice-president of Korika Rice Farmers Co-operative in Jabana, said farmers use inefficient irrigation systems that affect crop productivity, adding that there was also low water supply in the area.

He noted that the situation is worsened by poor handling methods along the value chain that lead to huge losses.

He pointed out that the main water source, Munyange dam on Nyabugogo River, had not been operational for the last 15 years.

"The breakdown of the dam has crippled our farming initiatives...there is barely enough water to irrigate rice paddies,” he said.

Korika Co-operative cultivates 400 hectares marshland, which also serves other growers from Gisozi, Nduba and Kinyinya sectors, all in Gasabo District.

The government promotes irrigation to reduce dependency on seasonal rains and increase the country’s crop output.

Ntibashirigorora said the co-operative, which started operations in 2010, has not been able to produce at maximum capacity because of the inadequate water and poor irrigation systems.

"We had planned to put 250 hectares of land under rice, but we were forced to abandon 48 hectares due to lack of enough water. The problem is more severe during the dry season,” he said in an interview, adding that about 150 hectares is idle land.

"We had planned to produce at least 500 tonnes of rice between January and June, unfortunately, we can only manage 300 tonnes,” Ntibashirigorora explained.

He added farmers have resorted to using two small dams that always dry up during the dry season.

"The dams are always swept away by floods.

"This has resulted into losses amounting to about Rwf4 million annually,” he said.

Other farmers, who spoke to The New Times, also said they lacked ready markets.

"We sell the unprocessed rice in Kayonza and Rwamagana districts at Rwf240 per kilogramme, which is too little considering the time and money invested,” they said. A kilo of processed rice costs Rwf700.

Ntibashirigorora said, as a result of this and other challenges, the group has not yet made any profit, adding that 847 members get soft loans from the co-operative’s savings and credit scheme to pay their children’s school fees and buy basic needs.

The farmers appealed to the government to repair Munyange dam and the rice processing plant in the area, which they said closed last year due to mechanical problems.

The factory had a capacity of process over 1,200 tonnes of rice per season.

However, things could soon get better, according to Tony Nsanganira, the Minister of State for Agriculture.

"Next month, we will conduct a study to assess needed intervention, especially what is required to rehabilitate the dam and improve the irrigation system in Jabana and other marshlands in Kigali.

"The study will take between three and six months, and rehabilitation process will last for about 12-18 months,” Nsanganira said.

The minister also said the dam will be expanded to increase its capacity.

Efforts are underway to increase acreage under rice from 15,000 hectares to 65,000 hectares by 2018 to make Rwanda a net rice producer. Currently the average yield per hectare is at 5.5 tonnes of rice.

The country produces about 55,000 tonnes of milled rice per season, which is two thirds of the present market demand. It imported over 126,931 tonnes of rice between 2011 and June 2013.

Farmers say if they get appropriate irrigation equipment, they can be able to increase production and narrow the gap.

business@newtimes.co.rw