Kigali City Council (KCC) in partnership with Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), have embarked on a joint initiative to rejuvenate agricultural production in Kajevuba swamp located in Gasabo district.

The 100-hectare swamp used to be the model of agricultural production, where locals and cooperatives used to harvest tonnes of produce which enabled them to export the surplus, but the trend had changed due to land degradation and floods.

In her speech to mobilize partners and locals to look at how production in the swamp can be revitalized, City Mayor, Aisha Kirabo Kacyira, sounded the need for an urgent intervention.

She challenged residents neighbouring the swamp to take the lead by showing commitment towards making the swamp more productive, saying that they are the immediate beneficiaries.

"This swamp has a history of outstanding agricultural production; it is sad that at this point, it is not helping to change people’s livelihoods, we have identified the problems hindering good harvests here and we need to work hand in hand with the locals to correct this,” she observed.

"For the last three years, we have been trying to help people in this area, we linked them up with partners who constructed a dam to tap excess water and we shall continue strengthening these partnerships.”

Alex Ruzigano, FAO Rwanda assistant representative, reiterated his organization’s commitment to step up the swamp’s agro-productivity.

"FAO being the government’s agricultural implementation partner, we are committed to seeing this swamp regain its potential instead of being redundant, we have assessed its state and we have already started helping out,” he noted.

This Swamp produces a wide range of agricultural products ranging from vegetables, fruits, food stuffs and cereals.

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