Muhanga District in expansion drive of green villages

Muhanga District has announced plans to scale up its green initiatives by expanding Muyebe1 green village. According to Eric Bizimana, the director of planning, the district plans to build second and third Muyebe green villages, where more residents living in hilly areas would be relocated. Officials while visiting the Muyebe green village, (All photos by Michel Nkurunziza) “We are targeting to relocate 724 households from Muvumba cell zones in Nyabinoni Sector. We are still studying land expropriation. The second village will be supported by the National Environment and Climate Change Fund (FONERWA),” he said. Muyebe 1 green village hosts 105 households. The village has installed rainwater harvesting systems 26 bio digesters. From the 210 cows, which were distributed, 160 calves have been produced and 145 calves were given out on Friday to other vulnerable neighbours. “We are distributing more cows and we plan to even build a third Muyebe green village. That is why we have to improve feeder roads and promote dairy business,” said the director in charge of planning. Bizimana spoke to The New Times last Friday as officials from ministries of Local Government and Natural Resources visited Muyebe green village. The officials were in the company of over 70 representatives from seven countries who were in Kigali to attend a regional environment meeting under PEI (Poverty-Environment Initiative). Ministers and PEI countries representatives looking at exhibited activities of Muyebe green village residents. The meeting discussed the progress made in development planning and budgeting processes at national and sub-national levels, environmental sustainability and shared experiences. The First Muyebe green village was built with support of Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA) and PEI in conjunction with ministry of Local government. Bizimana explained that the second Muyebe green village is in line with the national resettlement programme. The district has already built 80 houses and is planning to add 100 houses and 200 cows to help in building biogas energy, according to Bizimana. It is being financed by National Environment and Climate Change Fund (FONERWA) under the project dubbed “Congo Nile Ridge Foothills Integrated Environmental Management Project”. Ministers help in distribution of calves to resident in Muyebe village. Dr Rose Mukankomeje, the director general of Rwanda Environment Management Authority said the expansion of the Green Village programme is an important tool in environment improvement. It is vital for sustainability as it increases understanding and provides inspiring lessons for good practices that can be taken up by farmers and other community members in the districts, she said. Meanwhile, during the same event, Minister for Local government Francis Kaboneka urged residents to sustainably look after the animals they received. The minister also encouraged residents to embrace the culture of supporting the vulnerable among them as well as starting income generating activities. District officials said plans are underway to set up a milk collection centre to start processing milk.

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Muhanga District in expansion drive of green villages