Yields are likely to be low in farming season A if rains continue to be minimal, farmers told The New Times.

Agriculture Season A started in September.

Although farmers said they were ready to cultivate different crops, they expressed worries that low rains could affect agricultural production.

"Farmers prepared fields and were ready to plant. Some have already planted maize, beans and soybean seeds but some seeds have not germinated yet due to a lack of rains,” said Evariste Tugirinshuti, the president of the maize farmers’ Cooperatives Federation in Eastern and Southern provinces told The New Times on Monday October 10.

The federation has 31, 271 farmers registered under different cooperatives.

According to Tugirinshuti, "Some farmers have not yet planted because they didn’t get enough rain and they are waiting for rains to be able to plant. There are some areas where only one third of farmers have planted seeds.”

Tugirinshuti who grows maize in Kirehe district noted that other seeds have germinated but are not in good state due to minimal rains.

"Rains are not enough in some parts of the eastern and southern region. It is clear that this farming season will not be favorable to many farmers. Some farmers do not yet have the financial capacity to afford irrigation. At least all those close to water bodies can gather efforts to irrigate if they get subsidies,” he said.

If the farmers count low yields in the current season, according to Tugirinshuti, food prices are likely to keep rising.

He said that last year, in the same season, maize farmers lost 30 per cent of their produce due to minimal rains.

According to statistics, food prices have increased by 29 per cent compared to last year.

Justin Nyandwi, a farmer of Ngeruka sector of Bugesera District said that farmers tilled their land but are yet to plant maize and beans due to lack of rains.

"Farmers experienced rains on rare occasions this season. If this week happened to end without rain, the situation would be worse and more people could face food shortage. If it doesn’t rain by October 15, and farmers miss planting, those planted later won’t manage to grow up,” he said.

He said that more farmers need increased subsidies on irrigation equipment to use Lake Cyohoha for irrigation.

"Even if there are subsidies, a farmer is required Rwf150,000 as contribution yet not every farmer can afford it. That is why we only grow crops during the rainy season. Government should also construct dams so that farmers use the water for irrigation in hillsides and pay service fees,” Nyandwi suggested.

Alphonsine Nzamwita, a farmer in Gatsibo District told The New Times that rains are being recorded once a week which is not enough adding that residents do not have enough food as they also previously experienced dry spells.

"One kilogram of bean seeds has increased to Rwf1,000. In addition to such needed investment, minimal rains are likely to erode it,” she said.

The farmer who grows maize and beans added that if rains are not recorded in the next week, there could be low agricultural output in farming season A.

"There is currently food insecurity in some families. If it doesn’t rain enough this season, they could suffer more,” she added.

Rwanda Meteorological Agency announced that from September to December 2022, there are higher chances of a decrease in rains compared to the previous period last year and before.

The agency said the expected rainfall may lead to extreme weather phenomena such as dry spells in some parts.

The issue is affecting farmers at the time when only four per cent of arable land is irrigated across the country.

As of last year, the total area under irrigation was 67,100 Hectares composed of 37,273 ha of marshlands, 9,439 ha of the hillside, and 20,388 ha of Small-Scale Irrigation Technology.

Rwanda is targeting to irrigate 102,284 Hectares or 11 percent by 2024.

Drought-resistant crops

The Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources has urged farmers to embrace some drought-resistant crops and those which take a short period to mature.

A statement issued by the Ministry indicates that, "The agricultural season comes at the time climate change is affecting the world including Rwanda. Based on the weather forecast, there will be minimal rains in some parts of the country from September to December, especially in the Eastern province and Amayaga region.”

It also adds in part that, "Farmers are urged to use drought-resistant crops such as cassava and short-growing period crops such as beans whose varieties are available. Farmers should also embrace the irrigation subsidy scheme and harvest rainwater for irrigation.”

Farmers are given 50 per cent subsidy for irrigation and 75 per cent if they are in cooperatives.

The ministry also urged farmers to embrace agriculture insurance to cope with climate change effects.