Rwanda: Children's Food a Priority in Bwira

Our First Priority: Enough Food for Bwira's Children

Background

This project is part of a larger project presented in three areas: the development of agriculture, access to water, and energy production.

Bwira is a mountain in the deep countryside where nutritional issues particularly affect the welfare of children.

The reasons are varied: The location of the village --  which is located on the sides of mountains rising to 2060 meters Muhororo, the area where the  population of about 23,000 people live is heavily littered [with garbage], the only source of water --  which does not always supply in sufficient quantity needs of the population – is remote and hilly, electricity is nonexistent, and the only access road to the village is in very poor condition.

This results in agricultural production just enough to survive, and quality is minimal due to the lack of variety. The lack of adequate conditions of food storage just adds to other problems.

Primary Objectives

The main objective is to improve production and food security of the inhabitants of Bwira, including the use of green manure (fertilizers), improving soil quality, and renewal of farming methods. 

The specific objectives are:

• Establish a continuous and diversified food production to ensure adequate nutrition and variety in all seasons.
• Set up properly the cultivable land in order to increase yields.
• Reconstitute the soil structure through the use of green manures enriching humus to fight against erosion, promote agricultural production environmentally friendly and reduce the dependence of producers for the industrial chemicals.
• Promoting seed production on site to ensure the adaptation of crops. to different soils and the sustainability of the project.
• Filter the water source by the lagoon in order to maintain drinking water quality –  even during long stays in pools during dry periods.
• Support, advise, and train the residents and local agronomists in the implementation of this approach.

Main Activities Planned

We will work closely with our local partners to ensure that the project not only meets the needs of the population, but also to ensure sustainability.

1. Preparatory steps in France

• Taking contacts with key people.
• Recruitment of technician training for the Agronomists Project in Rwanda.
• Organization of stay for the development project in Rwanda.
• Awareness population, fundraising, and sponsoring additional.
• Establishing a means of communication and reporting.

2. Preparatory steps in Rwanda

• Briefing on participatory project to residents and other stakeholders.
• Clarification of objectives and techniques to implement, schedule of activities and responsibilities (resource persons in the community and local authorities).
• Production of a document language adapted to the local culture on the nature and objectives of the project.

3. Problem of gully erosion

• Development of agricultural fields by the establishment of permanent  crops across slopes to slow water (especially in case of heavy rains) and retain the land.
• Planting plants with deep tap roots to ensure the sustainability of crops.
• Planting of food crops and fruit and utilities to maintain enough plants to form a stable barrier to rainwater laden alluvium.
• Improving the nutritional resource support to plants in the hedges of protection, taken by runoff.

4. Irrigation

• Installation of an irrigation using wastewater in an area dedicated to crops to enhance some of the water resource unfit for direct consumption.
• Establishment of a filtration plant at a lower altitude to purify and get rid of parasites an microbial flora hazardous to health, pump up the filtrate to the crop plots.

5. Culture and level

• Development of culture and level to achieve higher returns through the allocation of water from plants.
• Construction of bearings and related soil by digging in some places; this mixing of soil and soil depth and stirred promotes plant growth.
• Use organic waste to enrich soil.

6. Production continues

• Establishment of tests for diversification of crops suited to local climatology in order to ensure continuous production throughout the year.
• Optimal use of local seeds that guarantee the autonomy and sustainability of quality agriculture adapted.
• Establishment of tests in case of import of new species so they do not become invasive or harmful, nor a replacement to local cultures.
• Establish a plan of crop rotation and crop rotation as a guarantee of sustainable production and improved fertility.

7. Training and monitoring

• Work closely with the people for the successful integration of the project.
• Establishment of markets for the sale of crops.
• Support Program in fixed-term for the progressive autonomy and continuity
• Integration Project in the overall vision of the Association Ubuntu through its work with Cooperative Abihuje, so that the resulting profits are distributed equitably among thepopulation.

Expected Results

• Gullying problem solved orgreatly limited, improved irrigation, successful integration of culture levels, food production continues, improved nutrition of the population, reduced water pollution, increased use of green manure, development of activities generating income, successful participation of the population, guaranteed sustainability of the project.

Beneficiaries

Initially, the beneficiaries will be members of the cooperative ABIHUJE, with whom we work directly.

It is expected that the project will generate a positive impact for all Bwira villagers and eventually, we will have the ability to replicate the project in other areas of the Ngororero district, given the collaboration with  local authorities.

Partners

The Association Ubuntu, the initiator of the project, is committed to seeking, where appropriate, additional funding and mobilizing agricultural skills that are lacking, such as the use of green manure.

he cooperative ABIHUJE is at the core of the project.

Bwira area residents (23,000 people) are the beneficiaries of the project. They were involved in the process of reflection during the holidays of 2010 and 2011.  The success of this project is  based on project ownership by the people of Bwira in all phases.

Local authorities (district mayor of Ngororero,development committee  --  Bwira sector) are stakeholders in the project that was presented in November 2011. They provide communication to all residents.

Other partners, covered by this request: other associations, agricultural colleges, and other structures able to respond with the gift of seeds, giving financial and/or volunteer participation in the project during its various phases.