The initiative, led by the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI) in partnership with the Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture (RICA), seeks to expand the adoption of conservation agriculture and integrate it into agricultural extension programmes.
The project began with training for different categories of agricultural officers working closely with farmers at the grassroots level. The trained personnel will later support farmers in adopting farming methods that preserve soil fertility and reduce land degradation.
The four-year programme will be implemented in all districts where land consolidation farming is practised. It will begin with 100,000 hectares during the next agricultural season before expanding to 150,000 hectares and eventually reaching 600,000 hectares by 2029.
So far, 168 people have been trained, including district agronomists and agricultural extension specialists from the Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB).
On July 22, 2026, RICA hosted a two-day training session for 52 agricultural interns from districts across the country in Bugesera. Overall, 889 people are expected to receive training before the start of the 2027A agricultural season.
Protecting soil while increasing productivity
Dr. Léonce Harerimana, Director of Extension and Irrigation, and Water Management Lecturer at RICA, said the project aims to ensure Rwanda adopts farming practices that protect soil while improving crop yields.
'We want conservation agriculture to ensure that cultivated land is not left bare and that rivers are not filled with soil washed away by erosion. Another objective is to increase productivity because the soil will have regained its quality,' he said.
Dr. Harelimana explained that some conventional farming practices contribute to soil degradation and reduced productivity.
These include excessive ploughing, which loosens soil and makes it more vulnerable to erosion, as well as removing crop residues from fields and applying chemical fertilisers without proper management.
He added that failure to use mulching also contributes to soil deterioration.
Under conservation agriculture, farmers are encouraged to keep soil covered, minimise soil disturbance through excessive tilling, and apply fertilisers in appropriate quantities and close to plants to ensure they are effectively absorbed.
Higher yields expected
According to RICA, improved soil management can significantly increase agricultural output.
For maize, farms that use quality seeds and apply soil conservation practices can produce up to seven tonnes per hectare, compared to less than two tonnes per hectare on degraded soils.
For beans, conserved land can produce between 1.6 tonnes and more per hectare, while poorly managed soils often produce less than 500 kilogrammes per hectare.
Dr. Christian Nkurunziza, the MINAGRI coordinator for the project, said the initiative seeks to address growing concerns over soil degradation and ensure land continues to provide meaningful yields.
'Today, the amount of land available for farming is not increasing, but we want the same land to produce more. Without protecting it, soil would lose its natural qualities. In the past, farmers could leave fields fallow, but that is no longer possible because land must be cultivated every season,' he said.
He noted that Rwanda has implemented various soil protection measures, including terracing, but additional approaches were needed to achieve stronger results.
'This is why we decided to introduce this project,' he added.
Eric Uwitoze, a trainee from Ruhango District, said the programme had helped him understand the importance of practices such as crop rotation in reducing crop diseases.
He added that conservation agriculture would also help reduce unnecessary costs associated with farming by improving soil quality and efficiency.
