From dust to harvest: How KIIWP is transforming farming in Kayonza

By Alexia Bizumuremyi

A few years ago, the hills of Kayonza told a story of struggle. Between 2017 and 2018, severe drought left soil cracked and barren, livestock wandered in search of water, and many families faced uncertainty about their next meal.

Today, those same hills tell a story of transformation. Terraces now wind gracefully along slopes that were once scarred by erosion, while bamboo lines anchor the soil.

Fruit trees such as avocado, mango, and orange punctuate the landscape, bringing life and color. For farmers, harvests are no longer a gamble dictated solely by the whims of the weather.

Terraces and bamboo: A visible transformation

Vincent Ndahimana, a maize and bean farmer, gestures to a stretch of land beneath his feet.

“This area used to be severely affected by erosion,” he says. “The soil was poor, yields were unreliable, and sometimes even our houses were at risk. But KIIWP helped us build terraces and plant bamboo, and now the water stays in the soil. Production has improved, and harvests are more predictable.”

A few kilometers away, Sandrine Munganyinka shares a similar experience.

“This land used to suffer from extreme conditions — too much sun or too much rain,” she says. “Before the terraces, heavy rains would wash away crops and even threaten homes. Now, the soil retains water, and the land is protected. Our harvests have increased, and we feel more secure.”

For farmers like Vincent and Sandrine, KIIWP has meant more than soil conservation, it has provided stability, predictability, and hope.

Beyond survival: Building resilience

The Kayonza Irrigation and Integrated Watershed Management Project (KIIWP) was conceived as an integrated response to recurring drought. Its long-term goal: strengthen climate resilience, improve food security, and boost household incomes across 40,000 rural households — approximately 180,000 people.

Dan Mandela, Value Chain Development Specialist at KIIWP2, explains the strategy.

“The idea was to move from reacting to drought to building long-term resilience,” Mandela says. “We support farmers through capacity building, provision of quality seeds and fertilizers, field organization, and terraces to conserve soil and water. Farmers are trained in climate-smart agriculture, soil conservation, and running farming as a business to ensure profitability.”

Phase II of KIIWP focuses on irrigation, watershed protection, and youth empowerment. Large dams under construction are expected to irrigate thousands of hectares, reducing dependence on rainfall.

Feasibility studies and procurement processes are already underway to introduce irrigation systems in Ndego Sector, while areas like Gishanda and Kanyeganyege are preparing for large-scale irrigation.

“Water changes everything,” Mandela adds. “When farmers have reliable irrigation, they can plan crops, think about markets, and shift from subsistence to profitable agriculture.”

Investing in the next generation

Youth empowerment is central to the project. Recognizing that many young people lack access to land, KIIWP plans to construct at least 50 greenhouses, creating employment for over 400 youth.

These greenhouses will focus on high-value, market-oriented crops such as chili peppers, connecting young farmers directly to income opportunities.

Harvesting hope

As the sun sets over the terraced hills, farmers discuss planting seasons, yields, and market prices, conversations that now include words like irrigation, productivity, and long-term planning.

“Before, we were always worried when the rains delayed,” Sandrine says. “Now, even when the weather changes, we feel more secure.”

Across Kayonza, the scars of drought remain, but the terraces, trees, and irrigation projects stand as quiet evidence of a district learning not just to endure climate shocks, but to adapt, thrive, and grow beyond them.

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