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By Clementine Nyirangaruye
Nyagatare District, located in Rwanda’s Eastern Province, is among the areas most affected by the impacts of climate change, particularly soil erosion, largely due to limited forest cover.
According to district authorities, a partnership with the Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA) through the National Adaptation Planning (NAP) Process project has brought positive change. Planting bamboo along the Umuvumba River has significantly helped control erosion and lessen its impact on agriculture and livestock.
The bamboo plantation now stretches for 85 kilometers along the Umuvumba River from the border between Nyagatare and Uganda down to where the river flows into Tanzania and Uganda.
This initiative has been especially beneficial to rice farmers, as explained by Matsiko Gonzague, Vice Mayor in charge of Economic Development in Nyagatare District.
“The Umuvumba River is of great importance to us, especially for agriculture and livestock. Nyagatare is widely known as a hub for both,” he said. “We conduct large-scale rice farming along this river. Previously, erosion was a serious issue, significantly reducing yields. But since bamboo was planted along the riverbanks, we’ve seen a remarkable decline in erosion.”
At around 11 a.m., Hatangimana Mariko, a rice farmer in the Cyonya marshland in Nyagatare Sector, confirmed that the initiative has had a major impact on farmers like him.
“Since the bamboo was planted, the soil is no longer being washed away by water, and our crops are safe,” he said. “Before, the flooding would destroy our fields, and we suffered huge losses.”
In addition to bamboo planting, other environmental conservation efforts are underway. These include the restoration of natural forest specifically imikinga across 140 hectares in the valleys of Nyagatare, Tabagwe, and Rukomo sectors. The district is also engaged in tree planting on grazing lands, constructing water ponds, and distributing 100 dam sheets (tarpaulins used for water collection) to support livestock farmers in areas far from the Umuvumba River.
These efforts are part of a broader climate adaptation strategy aimed at protecting livelihoods and promoting sustainable agriculture in one of Rwanda’s most climate-vulnerable regions.
