The ongoing projects in which the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) has invested billions of francs are primed to support Rwanda’s agriculture and food security efforts once completed. As Rwanda and its development partners join hands to celebrate the World Food Day on October 29, 2021, the contribution of such schemes deserves attention. They include the Rwanda Dairy Development Project (RDDP) – a six-year project launched in 2017 to run through 2022 – which intends to contribute to pro-poor economic growth and improve the livelihoods of about 100,000 resource-poor rural households. RDDP cost is US$65.1 million (about Rwf65 billion), including an IFAD loan of US$43.6 million and a grant of US$1.1 million. It is co-financed by Heifer International (US$4 million). It aims to increase the dairy sector’s competitiveness and profitability through provision of quality products from small-scale producers to domestic and regional consumers, thus improving their livelihoods, food security and nutrition while building overall resilience. RDDP Supported Artificial Insemination in Rwanda by purchasing high genetic merit bulls, and setting up a semen storage plant to improve cattle breed. Photo: IFAD. The project consists of three components namely climate-smart dairy production intensification, support for producer organisations and value chains, capitalising on productivity gains, and institutional and policy development. One of the supports from the project is the construction of solar-powered boreholes in Nyagatare and Kayonza districts of Eastern Province which is prone to drought that adversely affects dairy farmers. Gahiga Gashumba, Chairperson of Nyagatare Dairy Farmers’ Union told The New Times that these boreholes have helped to save cattle from water shortages and death induced by drought. “This borehole system harnesses drought by using solar energy to pump [underground] water. It has greatly contributed to saving cows from drought and mitigated drought impact on milk production through supporting dairy farmers’ access to water,” he said. RDDP supported farmers with adequate milk transportation equipment. Photo: IFAD. According to information from the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources, the Eastern Province was during the fiscal year 2016/2017 affected by a severe drought that resulted in the deaths of 2,417 cows in the districts of Kayonza, Nyagatare, Gatsibo, Ngoma, and Kirehe. Scheme to tackle drought in Kayonza Given that Kayonza District is one of the Eastern Province districts susceptible to drought which causes crop failure and has a negative impact on livestock productivity, IFAD supported the realisation of the $79.93 million (about Rwf79 billion) Kayonza Irrigation and Integrated Watershed Management Project (KIIWP). This project is expected to contribute to poverty reduction in this area, such as by ensuring food security and steady income for 50,000 households. Its first phase – KIIWP 1 – costing at least $20.93 million (about Rwf18.7 billion), is being implemented from 2019 through 2022, while KIIWP 2 will follow after the signature of the financing agreement as it has been already approved by the IFAD’s 13rd Executive Board on 01 October 2021 Funding for KIIWP 1 will largely come from IFAD which committed US$17.79 million (85 per cent) through a highly concessional loan – with a maturity period of 40 years and a grace period of 10 years with an interest rate of 0.75 per cent interest rate. KIIWP seeks to improve the resilience of smallholder farmers to droughts and effects of climate change through increased levels of production and productivity of selected food and cash crops, livestock and improved market access and business development. Partnership for inclusive small livestock markets The Partnership for Inclusive Small Livestock Markets – PRISM – running from 2021 to 2026, is a partnership programme implemented by the Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB), and jointly funded by IFAD and ENABEL (Belgian Development Agency). Heifer International and VSF (Veterinarians without Borders) Belgium are the project key implementing partners. Its cost is over US$45.6 million (about Rwf45 billion), of which more than US$14.9 million is IFAD financing. The overall objective of the programme is to reduce poverty by empowering poor rural men, women and youth to participate in the transformation of the Rwanda livestock sector and to enhance their resilience. Also, it intends to improve food and nutrition security and incomes of poor rural households through better performance of the livestock value chains. It will target 15 districts, distributed across the northern, southern and western provinces of Rwanda. Based on the national wealth ranking system (Ubudehe), PRISM will directly target 26,355 poor rural households, belonging to Ubudehe categories 1, 2 and 3. Key components of the project are climate-smart intensification of small livestock production systems; support to Small Livestock Value Chain Development; and policy support and coordination. It is to note that since 1981, IFAD has financed 18 rural development programmes and projects in Rwanda, for a total amount of over US$570 million. The IFAD country programme has contributed significantly to improving incomes and food security in rural areas, particularly through watershed development, increased production in marshland and hillsides, development of livestock and export crops, and support to cooperatives and rural enterprises.
