African Development Bank Group through concessionary window, African Development Fund has approved $47 million (Rwf26 billion) for poverty reduction in Rwanda and Burundi.

The funds will finance the Bugesera Natural Region Rural Infrastructure Project (Bugesera PAIR), a project with an objective of improving food security in Bugesera region through increasing agricultural production.

The multinational development programme will boost agricultural products by irrigating 2000 hactares, using Lakes Rweru, Cyohoha and Akanyaru marshlands which are shared by Rwanda and Burundi.

The project will kick off next year with duration of six years.

It will help to improve food security in the area by building irrigation infrastructure, access roads and storage facilities, increasing agricultural production and conserving water and the soil.

The project area was identified because the region suffered serious food insecurity due irregular and insufficient rainfall, contributing to falling agricultural output.

To overcome these constraints, the governments of Rwanda and Burundi decided to design the multinational character of the project which when the activities envisaged under the project would benefit both countries.

The population of the project area is estimated at 834,000, with 274,000 for Rwanda in Bugesera district and 560, 000 for Burundi in Kirundo province. 

The funds will also help in marshland management and marshland rehabilitation. Marshland management will involve about 8000 hactares and 3500 hactres will be rehabilitated to make it useful to the citizens.

Rice will be one of the major crops to be cultivated in the area in about 6000h with 3000 from each country.

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