Trees and farmland are often integrated through a system called agroforestry
In the lower savanna landscapes of Rwanda’s Eastern Province, 40-year-old Nyiransabimana Alice strolls across her field, inspecting the young tree seedlings she planted just after the last rains. She points proudly to a slender Grevillea tree among the maize and cassava sprouting from the earth. “This one will give me shade, sticks for climbing beans, and later, firewood,” she says, patting the soil around it.
Years ago, Alice’s farm was different. It was exhausted, cracked from the sun, and crumbling down the slopes after every rain. “We used to lose everything when the rains came,” she says. The soil would wash away, and we would start from nothing.”
Today, her land tells a different story, one of resilience and quiet transformation. The secret? Trees.
Across Rwanda, a quiet but powerful revolution is taking root. It’s not led by machines or foreign investors but by farmers like Alice, who embrace agroforestry, the practice of growing trees alongside crops and livestock. This age-old tradition, now supported by national policy, transforms degraded hillsides into green, productive, and climate-resilient landscapes.
You won’t find it often on the front page of the most powerful newspapers. Still, agroforestry is quickly becoming one of Rwanda’s most effective tools in the fight against poverty, hunger, and climate change. It’s changing how people farm and live.

Trees are invaluable for combating global warming, protecting the environment, and uplifting rural economies
“Agroforestry has brought life back to our land,” says Musafiri Jean Claude, a farmer in Nyagatare district. He stands beside a newly planted line of shrubs contouring the slope of his farm. “Before, the rain destroyed everything. These trees protect the soil, and my harvests are better.”
But this is more than just a personal story. Agroforestry is now a national strategy.
In 2018, the Ministry of Environment, Government of Rwanda, launched a bold ten-year plan to spread the practice nationwide to have trees on every farm by 2030. It’s an ambitious mission driven by necessity. Rwanda’s land is steep, its population dense, and its rural communities deeply dependent on rain-fed agriculture. As the climate grows harsher and the soil thins, the need for innovative, sustainable farming has never been greater.
At its heart, agroforestry is about working with nature, not against it. Trees hold soil in place, bring nutrients back into the ground, and offer fruits, fodder, and fuel for households. They provide shade for crops and livestock, stakes for beans, and even medicine. They’re banks that grow on the land, investments with returns not in paper but in harvests and hope.
But the journey hasn’t been easy. For decades, trees were seen as the enemy of farming. Farmers were told to clear land to grow food, not to share it with trees. Even today, some still hesitate. “It’s hard to convince someone hungry to wait five years for a tree to grow,” says Munyandekwe Théoneste, an agricultural extension worker in Bugesera District. “But when they see their neighbours succeed, they believe.”
Education is key. So is access to the right tree seedlings, tools, and information. The Ministry of Environment, through the Rwanda Forestry Authority, is working with partners such as the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and other organizations to train farmers, distribute seedlings, and raise awareness. More importantly, they are helping people connect the dots between trees and their daily survival.

Grevillea robusta is a common tree species planted throughout Rwanda’s Eastern Province
Fruit from agroforestry trees is becoming more prevalent in rural markets. Firewood is being used less frequently at home, as many farmers opt for improved cooking stoves. Milk yields are rising thanks to better fodder. Even school fees are being paid with fruit and timber sales income. For many, agroforestry is not just about the environment; it’s about dignity, prosperity, development, and being able to provide.
Yet, not everything is solved. Some farmers still lack access to reliable markets for their products. Others need better support to manage and protect their trees. The value chain for agroforestry products is also critical, as many farmers lack knowledge on adding value to their agroforestry trees and farmlands.
And there is always the risk of pushing a “one-size-fits-all” model in a country with diverse landscapes. “We need to match the right trees with the right farms,” once said Dr. Mukuralinda Athanase, a scientist and Rwanda Country Representative for CIFOR-ICRAF who has studied and published on agroforestry for decades. “And we need to listen to farmers because they know their land best.”
Back on her farm, Alice finishes her inspection. She steps under the shade of a mature avocado tree planted seven years ago. Its branches are heavy with fruit. She calls her son, who climbs up with a sack to harvest. “We sell some,” she says. “But we also eat them. It keeps the children healthy.”
She looks across her fields, green and alive, and smiles. “Trees don’t lie,” she says. “When you care for them, they take care of you.”
This truth is being rediscovered in Rwanda, one farm at a time. And as the trees grow, so does a new future, rooted in resilience and rising from the soil.

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About the author
Habimana Jean Claude
The author is the Science Communications Expert dedicated to unlocking the power of Nature-based Solutions, Forest Landscape Restoration, Conservation Agriculture, Sustainable Agriculture, Gene Editing, One Health, and the circular economy in Africa.