Residents of Nasho Sector, Kirehe District, have found solution for the rampant drought in a new irrigation scheme being championed by Howard Buffett.

During his tour of Nasho II irrigation site, yesterday, Buffett, the chief executive of Howard Buffett Foundation, commended the progress of the construction works and assured residents that the project will change their livelihoods.

"Irrigation equipment will be here by December and we will start installation around the farm. We will use pivot irrigation and 63 pivot machines will run on solar energy. It is always hard to start but I am sure you will rejoice when the project starts yielding benefits,” he said.

The American philanthropist is the son of Warren Buffett, one of the world’s richest men.

Earlier this year, Buffett pledged $500 million (about Rwf345bn) toward support for agriculture initiatives in the country.

The support is aimed at transforming the sector’s productivity from subsistence to commercial farming through irrigation systems and skills development, among others.

The Minister for Agriculture, Dr Geraldine Mukeshimana, said the project covers 1,206 hectares of Cyambwe valley and it will use water from Cyambwe Lake.

She said Buffett is fully funding the project with $22 million (about Rwf16 billion) in irrigation infrastructure, including roads, drainage, water tanks and irrigation machines, while the government will spend Rwf1 billion in expropriation.

Buffett said his Foundation decided to run the project in Rwanda because they are sure it will succeed for many reasons, including government support, and its commitment to development initiatives and stability.  

"This area has been selected because it is prone to drought and that brings need for irrigation. The project is moving forward but it will take time because it is very big. It is a big undertaking and we want to do it on a larger scale thereafter,” he said.

"We are looking for a number of projects and apart from projects in agriculture, we also have 250 beneficiaries of a fully funded scholarship programme, now studying in the US and other countries.”

Buffett took time to interact with farmers at Cyambwe valley and addressed their worries about the project before leaving for another visit to a Practical Agriculture Institute in Karama, Bugesera District.

The institute is also under construction and is fully funded by Buffett, who said it is intended to bring rural expertise, education and development in agriculture.

Minister Mukeshimana said the irrigation facility in Nasho will tackle the rampant drought that the area has been experiencing for long.

"This area often suffers droughts but relief has come as this project is going to end the problem and improve residents’ welfare. As the installation of irrigation pivots starts in December, every completed installation will start being used as the installation continues to take about a year,” she said.

Mukeshimana urged Nasho farmers to own the project and preserve the facility.

The minister said the irrigation master plan intends to cover 600,000 hectares in long term, but it currently covers only 40,000 hectares countrywide.

Eastern Province governor Odette Uwamariya said the province looked to the project to boost agriculture.

"We are currently doing irrigation on 8,000 hectares and our target is to register 3 per cent annual increase. This project will significantly contribute to our targets when it starts,” she said.

Residents welcomed the project and pledged to make good use of the irrigation scheme.