In the heart of Rwanda’s capital, Kigali, the sound of construction is a constant reminder of the rapid urbanization reshaping the landscape. Amidst this development, the nation is facing a critical challenge: the loss of agricultural land. Mukarusini Kurisikira, now 84, can attest to this loss.
A survivor of the 1994 Rwandan genocide, she returned to find her family’s extensive farmland, which once stretched across the hills, now replaced by high-rise buildings. Today, she tends to a small plot of land, barely sufficient to feed her family, watching warily as construction equipment continues to encroach upon the remaining farmland.
To address this issue, Rwanda’s government has initiated a comprehensive program to protect its agricultural land. Since September, they have been mapping the country’s farmlands and forests using satellite imagery. This technology allows for the tracking of any development that threatens to encroach upon these vital areas.
The country is facing additional pressures, including rising global fertilizer prices since the start of the Iran war, which threaten its food security. To combat this, the government has imposed fines of up to $3,000 and jail terms of up to six months on developers found to be encroaching on agricultural land.
The government’s efforts are not limited to legal penalties. They are also planning to incorporate drones for real-time monitoring, enhancing their ability to enforce the new regulations. In Kigali, the mayor’s office has shown a commitment to agriculture, allocating nearly a quarter of the city’s land—22%—to agricultural use.
Despite the attractive prospect of housing construction, city authorities emphasize the importance of maintaining productive farmland. They believe that with innovation, food can be grown on smaller plots, addressing the rising demand for food while conserving land.
Rwanda’s approach to urban agriculture is innovative and multifaceted. Emma-Claudine Ntirenganya, a spokeswoman for the mayor’s office, speaks of an urban farming model that demonstrates to Kigalians the potential for productivity on smaller land. This includes the establishment of green spaces and gardens in new building designs, as well as the promotion of vertical farms.
Christian Irakoze, co — founder of Eza Neza, a local company that sets up vertical farms, describes them as scalable solutions that can adapt to the city’s needs. “We really have to find ways to find our own solutions, whether through inputs like fertilizers or seeds, “Irakoze says, emphasizing the need for self-sustainability in the face of global events.
Elsewhere in Kigali, young agronomists are training farmers in advanced farming technologies such as hydroponics to maximize productivity. Richard Bucyana, one of the agronomists, underscores the importance of finding solutions that allow farmers to overcome land constraints while increasing output. “African governments should start thinking how they can be self-sustainable, “Bucyana adds, reflecting a broader shift towards self-reliance and innovation in the face of global challenges.
Source: Africanews
