African Development Bank (ADB) has committed Rwf178m ($316, 050) to finance a study in Bugesera district that will contribute to the improvement of food security in the region.

Bugesera is considered among the most dry areas with severe food insecurity. The insecurity is due to lengthy and recurrent droughts caused by a deficit in rainfall.

In an interview with Joseph Nyirimana an agronomist and Rwanda’s field officer in ADB, the first batch of funds will support technical studies that include Gashora marshland rehabilitation in about 1,500 hectares and irrigation of 1000h pumping water from Lake Rweru.

The project is a Regional Integrated Rural Development (RIRD) project between Rwanda and Burundi. It is aimed at concerted and rational exploitation of the two countries’ common water resources, for the well being of their respective peoples.  

The project’s objective is to increase agricultural production by ensuring better control of water use, for durable socio-economic development of the area. It will consequently reduce poverty in the two countries by improving food safety.

"The area has low and poor yields yet it has high agricultural potential because of the lakes and river around. If the water is well managed it can produce high products,” Nyirimana said.

Some of the shared water resources between the two countries are Lake Cyohoha, Lake Rweru and Akanyaru River.

Currently six international firms have been selected to conduct the study which is expected to take about nine months.

After the research the project is expected to take off in March 2010, financed under a $44m (Rwf24.9 billion) grant that will be approved by ADB in September this year.

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