Building climate-resilient farming systems in Rwanda

Farming and livelihoods under pressure

Kirehe District is one of the hardest places to farm in Rwanda. Although agriculture there is one of the most vulnerable to climate change, many households rely on it for both food and their livelihoods. Declining soil fertility and economic pressures compound, affecting agricultural productivity and families’ ability to secure reliable incomes.

Farmers face prolonged dry spells, unreliable rainfall and limited access to irrigation systems, all of which contribute to lower yields and food insecurity. Soil tests came back highly acidic and with severe nutrient deficiencies, limiting productivity and contributing to land degradation.
Many smallholder farmers also lack access to quality agricultural inputs, technical knowledge and reliable markets. Weak farmer organisations and limited bargaining power often leave producers dependent on intermediaries and vulnerable to fluctuating prices. For refugee farmers, these challenges are compounded by limited livelihood opportunities and restricted access to land and infrastructure.

In response to these challenges, we combined regenerative agriculture, renewable energy and market systems development to create a climate-resilience and sustainable farming system. This approach strengthened local capacity and livelihoods, while increasing productivity and restoring the soil.

A new approach to farming

• The project recognised that climate resilience depends on healthy soils that allow greater productivity, sustainable water access, stronger farmer organisations and better access to markets. To address these interconnected challenges, the project focused on: Strengthening farmer cooperatives, including supporting the registration of KUIMA, Rwanda’s first refugee farmer cooperative.
• Promoting regenerative agriculture through Farmer Field Schools, demonstration plots and practical training on composting, agroforestry, crop rotation, soil restoration, integrated pest management and water conservation.
• Improving access to water by installing the first solar-powered irrigation system in a refugee camp in Rwanda and establishing a Water Users Association to manage it sustainably. This enabled year-round cultivation while reducing reliance on labour-intensive irrigation methods.
• Improving market access by connecting cooperatives with buyers, strengthening marketing committees and supporting the construction of a collection centre equipped with a solar-powered cold room.

By the end of the project, CRF had:

• Supported 177 refugee and host community farmers, more than double the original target of 80 participants.
• Supported the creation of two cooperatives, one of which is Rwanda’s first refugee farmer cooperative. This strengthened collective organisation and market participation.
• Introduced regenerative agriculture practices across 44 hectares of farmland through Farmer Field Schools and peer learning approaches.
• Planted 11,360 agroforestry and avocado seedlings across 33.6 hectares, contributing to improved soil health, biodiversity and climate resilience.
• Installed the first solar-powered irrigation system in a refugee camp in Rwanda, supporting year-round cultivation across 15 hectares of farmland.
• Constructed a 5-metric-ton solar-powered cold room, helping reduce post-harvest losses and improve produce quality.
• Facilitated market contracts for 154 metric tonnes of agricultural produce, improving farmers’ access to more reliable markets.

In Kirehe, farmers show how futures can drastically change when solutions are led by the community and developed to address all added challenges. Given a chance to work on healthier soil, water and a fair route to market, they are running productive farms and sell into working markets.