Farmers who were counting losses due to dry spells for years could start harvesting vegetables- pepper, eggplants and French beans- thanks to a multi-million solar-powered irrigation along Lake Cyohoha in Bugesera District.

Anastase Sikubwabo, a member of farmers' cooperative "Abakoranumurava" in Kibenga cell of Mayange Sector in Bugesera District, recounts how dry spells devastated his crops last year.

"The poor harvest due to drought has triggered the increase of beans prices across the country in the past many months," he said

The farmers could soon smile following an installation of Rwf117 million irrigation dam drawing water from Lake Cyohoha to irrigate their crops under the support of Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board and USAID-funded Hinga Weze project.

The project seeks to benefit 700,000 smallholder farmers in ten target districts namely Bugesera, Gatsibo, Kayonza, and Ngoma (Eastern Province); Karongi, Ngororero, Nyabihu, Nyamasheke, and Rutsiro (Western Province); and Nyamagabe (Southern Province) and across five value chains: high-iron beans, orange flesh sweet potato (OFSP), Irish potato, maize, and horticulture.

In response to the dry spells and water shortages in the area, farmer promoters and community health workers were trained on embracing smart agriculture, food safety and hygiene in food preparation through hand-washing facilities installation so as to cope with impacts of COVID-19 on the farming community.