Huye: flooding in Munyazi marshland drives crop losses for rice farmers

By The Inspirer.

Rice farmers in the Munyazi marshland, straddling Mbazi Sector and Huye Sector in Huye District, are raising alarm over recurring losses caused by rising water levels that are eroding farmland and destroying crops.

Farmers say a once-small water channel has expanded into a river due to heavy rainfall, sweeping away fertile soil and undermining rice production. They are calling for urgent intervention, including the construction of embankments to control water flow and prevent further damage.

Jean Claude Nshimiyimana, a rice farmer in the area, said the transformation has been gradual but devastating.

“What used to be a small stream has now turned into a river because of persistent rains. Our land continues to be washed away,” he said, adding that proper riverbank protection would not only curb erosion but also ease movement across the marshland.

The situation is compounded by the marshland’s role as a key crossing point for nearby communities. Residents from Rukira and Sovu villages in Huye Sector, as well as Kabuga village in Mbazi Sector, rely on the area to access water sources and move between locations, increasing exposure to risk.

Fellow farmer Betty Mukarugwiza called for vegetation-based solutions to stabilize the riverbanks, suggesting bamboo planting as a possible measure to contain soil erosion.

However, Huye District Vice Mayor for Economic Development Kamana Andre advised farmers to adopt more economically viable options.

“While bamboo can help control erosion, it does not generate income. Planting sugarcane along the riverbanks would both stabilize the soil and provide farmers with a source of revenue,” he said.

The challenges in Munyazi reflect broader concerns over climate-related risks in Rwanda’s wetlands, where increased rainfall is putting pressure on agricultural systems.

Experts emphasize that addressing such impacts will require coordinated action, including improved land management, enforcement of environmental protection measures, and investment in erosion control strategies such as tree planting, water channeling, and terracing.