The recent prolonged drought and unusual hailstorm caused by climate change have mostly affected women farmers especially in Eastern province.

The ordeal of affected women farmers emerged amidst the month of International Women’s Day celebration whereby the impact of climate change on women in agriculture and business has been documented.

Jane Batamuliza, the farmer from Nyagatare District said that prolonged drought and unusual hailstorm has decreased farmers’ produce which they were expecting from Agricultural Season A.

The season A starts from September to February of the following year.

"Dry spells in some sectors lasted from May to October and somewhere in November last year. Most of the farms of maize, beans and other crops that had no irrigation were affected. When dry spells ended, we faced unusual heavy rains. The hail, which I experienced for the first time, destroyed the crops that had survived drought. It was a double disaster,” she narrated.

For instance, farmers who were expecting about five tonnes of maize in produce ended up harvesting only three tonnes.

"For instance, hail befell three villages in Rurenge and Nyagatare cells in Rukomo Sector. Hail completely damaged all crops especially maize and beans that were flowering to the extent that farmers suffered from hunger. The leaders embarked on collecting food relief to support those affected. Some cows also died due to lack of enough fodder,” she said.

At least 36,000 families comprising over 150,000 members affected by prolonged drought were given food relief.

Batamuliza said the interventions to green Eastern province should be scaled up in order to fight desert in this province.

"We have got some agro-forestry trees that can both protect the environment and provide wood as well as fertile soil. The agro-forestry trees also provide fodder to feed our livestock but they need to be scaled up in the whole province,” she said.

Slight decrease in maize, bean produce

Speaking to the media about the economic trends on March 16, , Prime Minister Edouard Ngirente, told The media that in the concluded agriculture season A climate change slightly reduced maize and bean production especially in Eastern province.

He said that Rwanda recently faced two types of climate change effects-drought and unusual rains.

"In Eastern province, unusual drought affected crops while some livestock lacked fodder, yet this province feeds the country with especially cereals such as maize and beans. This triggered urgent irrigation on 7,000 hectares,” he said.

He said that due to the effects of climate change there has been slight reduction in maize and bean production.

"The maize production could decrease by 0.6 percent from 378,000 tonnes last year to 357,000 tonnes. Bean production is likely to decrease by 2 percent in this province. However, we assure food security because not much was affected at national level,” he said.

Meanwhile, he assured that other crops such as cassava produce has increased by 23 percent, rice by eight percent and wheat by 29 percent adding irrigation and other interventions are being increased to boost production.

Only 11 % of women-led households use irrigation

During the discussions about the impact of climate change on women in agriculture and business held on Friday March 18, Jeanne D’arc Mujawamariya, the Minister for Environment said that only 11 percent of women-led households in agriculture are using irrigation which makes them vulnerable to climate shocks.

"Lower adoption of smart climate practices exacerbates vulnerability to climate change effects in female led households compared to those led by men. Statistics show that only 11.8 percent of female-headed households in agriculture adopt irrigation compared to 78.3 of male-headed households,” she said.

She said there is need for support and training on climate agriculture considering that 64 percent of women farmers are still involved in subsistence agriculture.

"Women need to be present in big green projects. In Eastern province we need to work together to harvest rainwater for irrigation and this could help such women,” she noted.

Government targets to irrigate 102,284 hectares by 2024 from the 63,000 hectares which are currently under irrigation.

Need for enhancing women’s access to climate finance

Teddy Mugabo, the CEO of Rwanda Green Fund (FONERWA) which funds green projects said that they have developed gender mainstreaming strategy two years ago.

"If we are designing a project, we will have to make sure consultations look at gender balance and ensure equal participation,” she said.

She said that so far 60 percent of 190,000 jobs created by the fund are women while 34 percent of 88, 300 households that got clean energy were women-headed households.

"We should make sure women access to climate finance. People only need to design bankable projects because climate finance is available,” she noted.