Gisagara leadership applauds PRISM project for transforming smallholder livelihoods

By Elias HAKIZIMANA.

Gisagara District has witnessed a remarkable transformation in small livestock farming, driven by the Partnership for Resilience and Inclusive Small Livestock Markets Project (PRISM).

The district’s Vice Mayor in charge of economic development, Jean-Paul Habineza, commended the project for its pivotal role in improving livelihoods, nutrition, and economic resilience among rural households.

“Gisagara depends heavily on agriculture and livestock. PRISM, particularly for small livestock farmers, has been vital,” Habineza said.

“Beyond financial income, manure from chickens and goats supports crop production, ensuring food security and marketable produce. Nutrition is central to our poverty graduation strategy, and PRISM has contributed significantly to this goal.” He added.

Funded by IFAD and HPI with a total investment of $10.4 million, PRISM is implemented in collaboration with RAB/SPIU, HIR, and Cordaid.

The project, running from 2022 to 2026, targets 26,355 households across five sectors—Muganza, Nyanza, Kigembe, Gishubi, and Gikonko—focusing on pig, poultry, sheep, and goat value chains.

The project’s strategic interventions include climate-smart intensification of small production systems, development of small livestock value chains, policy and regulatory support, and the empowerment of women and youth.

In the field, PRISM has enabled communities to construct essential infrastructure, including chicken brooding sites, communal pigsheds, animal feed shops, and eggs collection and selling points.

It has also introduced climate-smart solutions such as Azolla farming, hydroponic green fodder, and sweet potato silage vines, improving livestock nutrition and resilience against climate variability.

Voices from the field highlight the tangible impact of the project.

Omar Gashema, a community facilitator, said, “We started in 2022, and now 20 associations, two savings groups, and an association of pig farmers totaling 439 members are actively participating. We have hydroponics under construction, mushroom farming, chickens, eggs, kitchen gardens, and fruit trees.”

Cooperative members credit PRISM for increasing household income and food security.

Augustin Bucyana, president of ABESAMIHIGO Cooperative, explained, “Families received chickens, pigs, and goats, while women—who make up 70 percent of members—benefit from training in nutrition, livestock management, and savings. Before PRISM, we worked scattered. Now we are organized, building infrastructure, improving egg nutrition through homegrown feed, and selling to neighbors.”

Jeannine Nyirahabimana, vice president of the cooperative, highlighted the social and economic changes brought by the project. “I started with ten chickens and now have three mushroom plots at home. Kitchen gardens provide income, we save in associations, and even disabled members are actively involved,” she said.

Goat farmer Deogratias Hashimamungu added, “PRISM helped me grow my herd from two goats to 41 while also producing eggs and chicken for nutrition and income. Small livestock has transformed our household finances and food security.”

Vice Mayor Habineza emphasized that PRISM has also instilled a mindset shift among beneficiaries, encouraging savings, livestock investment, and sustainability.

“Over 23,000 beneficiaries have received training, animals, and infrastructure. Local authorities support sustainability by encouraging ownership and maintenance. Gisagara serves as a model of what is achievable when citizens actively participate, enhancing productivity, income per capita, and overall well-being,” he said.

He added that with proper planning, irrigation, and improved inputs, the district aims to boost agricultural yields to six to ten tons per hectare, linking livestock interventions to broader agricultural development.

As PRISM continues, local authorities and community members hope to expand its activities across additional sectors, enabling more households to benefit from improved livestock infrastructure, climate-smart solutions, and strengthened value chains.

The project reinforces Gisagara as a district of resilience, innovation, and sustainable rural development.

Jeannine Nyirahabimana, vice president of ABESAMIHIGO Cooperative in Nyanza, Gisagara, speaks during an interview about how PRISM has improved household nutrition, income, and inclusivity for women and disabled members.  Deogratias Hashimamungu, a PRISM beneficiary in Gisagara, speaks during an interview about how the project helped him grow his herd, improve nutrition, and boost household income.

PRISM-trained farmers in Gisagara learn to produce animal feeds using techniques such as hydroponics, Azolla farming, and sweet potato silage to boost livestock nutrition and productivity.      theinspirerpublications@gmail.com