Rwanda Agriculture Development Authority (Rada) is promoting rainwater harvesting to boost agricultural production and improve household incomes in the country.

"Good management of rainwater and its efficient use for agriculture production is necessary to reduce food insecurity in a semi arid and arid climate country like Rwanda,” Patrick Hakizimana, the director general, Rada said.

Rada has started pilot rainwater harvesting projects at Ntarama sector, Bugesera district. Here 25 lined ponds and 14 underground tanks have been constructed. Ruhango sector in Ruhango has also 20 lined ponds while Busasamana sector in Nyanza district has 20 ponds.

Joshua Mutembe, one of the experts involved in the construction of these ponds and tanks says: "For taking water out of the pond for irrigation we use the manual pump which is very simple and easy to use.”

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