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By Annonciata Byukusenge
Some young people say that they are trapped in poverty due to a lack of employment or opportunities that could help them engage in income-generating activities. However, those who discovered the potential in agriculture and embraced it were supported by the SAIP project, which helped them improve their livelihoods through farming.
Bigirimana Ildephonse, a 34-year-old man living in Buyoga Sector, Rulindo District, completed secondary school but couldn’t afford to go to university due to financial constraints. He turned to agriculture, as it was the only viable option that did not require significant startup capital.
He said, “After missing the opportunity to go to university, I began farming, although not professionally, because I didn’t know how to grow improved seeds or apply modern farming techniques to generate income. I was doing it with passion even though it wasn’t professional, but I managed to get a small harvest to feed my family, save seeds for the next season, or consume them until they ran out.”
He added that in 2020, he learned about a project called SAIP that could help him expand his farming operations and do it professionally.
“Agriculture mobilizers told us about a project called SAIP that supports farmers. However, it required submitting a project proposal where the beneficiary contributes 10% and SAIP covers the remaining 90%. I submitted my proposal, and luckily it was accepted. I had already been farming beans and pumpkins.”
Bigirimana says his yields tripled after adopting professional farming practices.
“On a hectare where I previously harvested 50 kg of beans, now I harvest 230 kg of French beans on just 4.5 ares, because now I use improved seeds and apply modern farming methods.”
The support Bigirimana received included funding worth 190 million Rwandan Francs, improved seeds for French beans and pumpkins, and a modern greenhouse for advanced farming.
Like other farmers in the Muyanza marshland in Buyoga Sector, SAIP helped him access irrigation through the construction of a reservoir capable of storing 2.4 million cubic meters of water. This system supports irrigation on 650 hectares of farmland, though the entire marshland spans 1,100 hectares.
Jean Hitimana, the SAIP manager, says the project focuses on small-scale irrigation, promoting fruit and vegetable farming, and improving nutrition among vulnerable families, especially those with children under five years old and pregnant women from poor families.
The second phase of SAIP is valued at $20 million and operates in 20 districts.
The Sustainable Agricultural Intensification and Food Security Project (SAIP) is funded by the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP) through the World Bank. The project is implemented under RAB’s Single Project Implementation Unit (SPIU).
