In the first phase of the the GAH project, the government has decided to tap water from the Akagera River using electric-powered machines. The captured water is stored in a 123,000 m³ reservoir before flowing through a 21 km canal. Along this canal, there are pumping stations that distribute water across 5,600 hectares.
The objective is to attract private investment into the agricultural sector with some success already evident.
"We already have seven private investors in the first phase, coming from the United States, Bulgaria, Kenya, and Zimbabwe.
They will cultivate crops such as maize, beans, soybeans, avocado, macadamia nuts, chili peppers, hazelnuts, wheat, and potatoes," explained Ngarambe Aloysius, GAH's CEO.
The GAH has already distributed plots to seven private investors. Land distribution began in March 2024, with investors generally given one year to prepare. Some have already begun putting up infrastructure developments.
This is a multi-faceted beneficial project because with the irrigation system, once farming begins, investors will be able to cultivate year-round without interruption. Throughout the 21 km canal, there are mini-pumping stations to distribute water across 5,600 hectares.
"As investments increase, production rises, and thus, a solution to food security is found. For maize, for example, productivity is expected to increase from 4 tons to 11 tons per hectare," said Ngarambe.
This project will provide jobs for over 6,500 people throughout the entire production chain. While its primary goal is food security, not all of the produce will be sold on the local market. Some products will be exported after processing, thus earning foreign currency. Another significant benefit is the transfer of knowledge and expertise.
'When such investors come into the country, they introduce new technologies. The local farmer with nearby land learns something. This helps them gradually abandon traditional farming methods and adopt modern techniques,' Ngarambe emphasized.
However, the investment is costly. So far, the government has invested $118 million into the first phase of the project. 'A private investor would not easily engage in this project because the money invested cannot be recouped in two, three, or even four years. It's a long-term project, and such investments are usually made by the state,' explained Ngarambe.
Government leasing land to farmers
The 5,600 hectares distributed to private investors belong to the local population. The government has decided to lease this land annually.
'When a farmer provides land to the project, 75% of it goes to the state. The state then allocates it to private investors. The remaining 25% is returned to the landowner after being developed to enable them to sustain themselves. The 75% is leased out, and the farmer is paid annually,' revealed Ngarambe.
This project will make the agricultural sector more productive, market-oriented, and resilient to climate change. Out of the 5,600 hectares developed by the government, only 3,724 hectares have been reserved for private investors. The second phase, which is set to begin in two years, will also develop 10,000 hectares.
The GAH project aligns with the second phase of the National Strategy for Transformation (NST2), aiming to make agriculture more productive, market-oriented, and resilient to climate change.
IGIHE
