From hardship to harvest: Kayonza sweet potato farmers thrive with KIIWP2

By Alexia Bizumuremyi.

Sweet potato farmers in Kayonza’s Mwiri Sector are transforming once-challenging hills into productive, market-ready farms thanks to the KOPUAIM Cooperative and the Kayonza Irrigation and Integrated Watershed Management Project Phase II (KIIWP2).

What was once subsistence farming is now a source of reliable income, improved food security, and hope for the future.

The cooperative, which brings together 253 members managing 17 hectares, produces an average of four 100-kilogram bags of sweet potatoes per acre. Farmers also cultivate maize and beans to diversify income and strengthen household food security.

“Before KIIWP2, we farmed only to feed our families,” said Tombora Pierre, a cooperative member. “Now, we sell surplus in the market and earn real income. The project provided sweet potato vines, fertilizers, and irrigation equipment, so we can farm even during harsh weather.”

For Tereziya Kabarebe, membership in the cooperative has been life-changing. “Joining this cooperative and receiving training from KIIWP2 has changed my life. I now earn money to pay for school fees, health insurance, and household needs. Modern farming has given me confidence and stability,” she said.

KIIWP2 is also constructing an artificial irrigation dam in Kabarondo Sector, which will allow farmers to irrigate crops consistently and reduce the risk of losses from recurring droughts.

Dan Mandela, Value Chain Development Specialist at KIIWP2, explained that the project trains farmers through Farmer Field Schools, provides improved seeds and fertilizers, and promotes climate-smart agriculture. “We also teach farming as a business, enabling households to move from subsistence to profitability,” he said.

KIIWP2 targets 40,000 rural households, benefiting approximately 180,000 people, including 50 percent women and 30 percent youth. Phase II builds on the successes of Phase I and is jointly funded by the Government of Rwanda and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), implemented Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB).

According to Sylvestre Ntagasanze, President of KOPUAIM Cooperative, members are now multiplying sweet potato vines and achieving strong yields. “A kilogram of sweet potatoes sells at 300 Rwf, and a bundle of vines at 1,500 Rwf. When we farm well, we feed our families and generate income. The cooperative is growing, and we plan to recruit more members as production rises,” he said.

Thanks to KIIWP2, Kayonza sweet potato farmers are producing reliably, selling surplus at the market, and planning for a resilient, prosperous future.

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