These insights were shared at the first National Symposium on Conservation Agriculture, held on March 28, 2025 at RICA campus in Bugesera.
The event was organized by the Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture (RICA), in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI), Mennonite Central Committee (MCC), and the World Food Programme (WFP).
Dr. Ndambe Nzaramba Magnifique, the Deputy Vice Chancellor for Extension and Applied Research at RICA, shared the foundational principles of conservation agriculture, which include minimal tillage or no-till practices.
He emphasized that practices such as plowing, cutting stubble, or clearing the land are discouraged as they can reduce yields and degrade soil health.
"We do not encourage plowing, cutting stubble, or clearing the land as these practices harm the soil," he said.
Conservation agriculture practices aim to enhance soil biodiversity, preserve soil integrity, store water for longer periods, and reduce erosion.
All this refers to the first principle: Minimizing Soil Disturbance. This includes using no-till or minimum-till methods to plant and control weeds without plowing the soil. Keeping the soil undisturbed helps increase soil organic matter, preserves soil structure, improves water retention, and reduces soil erosion.
The second principle is Permanent Soil Cover. This includes planting cover crops to cover the soil between seasons, leaving leftover residues like leaves and stalks in the field after harvesting, and putting down mulch where available. Covering the soil increases soil organic matter, limits erosion and nutrient run-off, and helps the soil retain moisture, which enables farmers to be more resilient in times of drought.
The third principle is Crop Diversification. This may include using crop rotation, or planting different crops in alternating seasons, or intercropping, which involves planting multiple crops in an orderly manner in the same field during the same season. Crop diversification benefits soil fertility and soil structure and is linked to higher yields. It can also help stop the spread of pests and diseases.
Dr. Ndambe highlighted that crop rotation also helps combat pests and diseases, reducing the need for chemical pesticides.
"When you continue to plant the same crops in one field, pests and diseases accumulate, but rotating crops or intercropping minimizes this risk," he said, emphasizing that farmers using these methods benefit from higher yields without the worry of pest infestations.
The symposium was attended by government officials, academic experts, private sector representatives, development partners, and farmers' organizations involved in agriculture.
Dr. Karangwa Patrick, Director General of Agriculture Modernization at the Ministry of Agriculture, stated that conservation agriculture is a critical pillar for building sustainable farming in Rwanda.
He revealed that currently, 1,000 hectares of land are being cultivated using conservation agriculture techniques but expressed a desire to see this number grow. The goal, as outlined in the country's five-year agriculture development program (PSTA 5), is to expand the practice to at least 100,000 hectares.
"Our goal is to reach at least 100,000 hectares in the PSTA5 plan. We want to increase the land area using conservation methods because we view it as a crucial aspect of agricultural development," Dr. Karangwa said.
Thomas Habanabakize, the Food and Security Coordinator at Mennonite Central Committee Rwanda (MCC), explained that MCC has dedicated resources to support and promote conservation agriculture.
One of their key programs, the "Farm Field School," has been implemented across the country. Each farm school brings together 30 farmers for training, where they apply their learning to their own farms and train five others in their community.
"We train farmer representatives, who in turn train others. In the last 10 years, this method has yielded great results," Habanabakize noted.
The initiative is currently active in nine districts, including Nyaruguru, Nyamagabe, Karongi, and Rutsiro, with plans to expand to Kayonza, Ruhango, Burera, and other regions. Many farmers who have participated in this program have reported increased yields due to the adoption of conservation agriculture practices.
Like other stakeholders in conservation agriculture, the World Food Programme (WFP) has recognized the importance of these farming methods in helping communities withstand natural disasters and improve crop yields.
WFP has supported projects to encourage conservation agriculture and assist farmers in managing their harvests better.
Richard Makuza, the Climate-Smart Agriculture Expert and Programme Policy Officer at WFP Rwanda, shared that in addition to providing disaster relief during droughts and floods, WFP has helped smallholder farmers in more than 400 cooperatives across the country access markets and store their produce after harvesting.
"In addition to responding to disasters like droughts and floods, we help over 127,000 smallholder farmers in 425 cooperatives across the country get access to markets and properly manage their harvests," Makuza said.
WFP, in collaboration with the government, has also developed initiatives to help farmers improve their resilience to climate change. These initiatives are aimed at helping farmers maintain their productivity during difficult times.
As a result, WFP has realized that promoting and encouraging conservation agriculture is a proven strategy and solution for sustainable farming.
"This is why we have gathered support for projects that promote conservation agriculture," Makuza added. "We started with pilot projects in five districts, and we are now entering a new phase where we support programs that align with the PSTA5 objectives."
Gakuba Jonas, a farmer from Kirehe District, who has practiced conservation agriculture for over five years, shared that the results have been impressive.
" Before we practiced conservation agriculture, our maize yields were below one ton per hectare and beans were only 800 kilograms per hectare. But now, after adopting conservation agriculture, our yields have doubled. We now receive water on time, and conservation practices have restored the fertility of our soil," Gakuba said, emphasizing the positive impact these methods have had on his farm's productivity.
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