LVEMPII
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Rwanda
Lake Victoria Environmental Management Project (Phase II) Quarterly Online Newsletter
Issue No 004 March-May 2015
Protecting the
environment
& Impacting lives
COVER PHOTO
Valorised terraces in Ngoma District
LVEMP II Rwanda Quarterly Newsletter
EDITORIAL Dear Readers, Welcome to the 4th edition of LVEMPII Rwanda Newsletter. As we continue implementing activities planned for under this project, we do express our sincere gratitude to you for your continued support as well as your valuable ideas and advices which are helping us to ensure timely and proper execution of activities. Ensuring that targeted degraded areas are rehabilitated within the expected timeline and, at the same time, making sure that our interventions benefit communities (in terms of proper environment management, sustainable land use practices as well as social and economic improvement) require efforts from several actors, including our valued and highly esteemed stakeholders at local, national, regional and international level. Throughout our interventions, we are making efforts to guarantee that our environment protection activities bring about positive change within the ecosystem and contributes to the socio-economic transformation of people’s lives both in the areas of our interventions and beyond. That is what you will read in this new edition of our quarterly online newsletter: How we ensuring that our activities result in sustainably-managed environment and bring about socio-economic changes within the communities. Throughout this newsletter, you will read how lives have been changed, livelihoods improved, environment safeguarded and how we are engaging communities through all our interventions to guarantee the success and sustainability of our activities. From the District of Ngoma far in the East to Rulindo and Gakenke in the North, this Newsletter takes you on a journey to discover the achievements that LVEMP II has registered up to today. It also brings you closer to our beneficiaries to explore the impact and difference that the Project is making within their lives. Throughout the many stories that constitutes this Newsletter, you will meet our beneficiaries talking about the Project and what it has changed within their lives. That is their stories and we have endeavoured to let our beneficiaries recount their tales. As we remain committed to our community-centred approach in whatever we do, we believe that giving them a space to talk about the changes is the best way to go. This Newsletter also brings you photos of some of our activities which, I believe, you will also enjoy. I wish you a good read and, kindly, do remember to send us your feedback. Thank you.
Annette Sylvie MUHAYIMANA National Project Coordinator
Issue No 004
March-May 2015
Content n
LVEMP II works to protect Base River
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Quest to improve beneficiaries’ livelihoods
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Recognising best Resource Efficiency & Cleaner Production practices
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LVEMP II impacting lives in Ngoma
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Pictorial: NTAC Members tour 10 physical activities in Ngoma District REMA LVEMP II-Rwanda Kacyiru,Kigali, Rwanda PO Box 7436 Kigali lvemp2@rema.gov.rw www.rema.gov.rw @LVEMP2_Rwanda lvemp2Rwanda LVEMP II Rwanda
Address your feedback to
Jean Pierre Bucyensenge LVEMP II Communications Specialist jpbucyensenge@rema.gov.rw +250783810145
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LVEMP II Rwanda Quarterly Newsletter
The big story
Controlling erosion and encouraging sustainable land management terraces are improving agriculture production and contributing to environu How ment protection in Rulindo and Gakenke Districts
Fidele Nzabanterura,51, has vivid memories of how, some years back, he struggled to control soil erosion on his relatively ‘small’ plot of land where he grew a variety of crops to feed his family. The farmer, a resident of Rurenge Cell in Mbogo Sector, Rulindo District, often watched haplessly as rainwater washed away his crops, soils and nutrients-reducing his ability to produce enough food both for consumption and commercial purposes. “Due to the hilly nature and the steep slopes that characterise this area, erosion was a serious threat to our agriculture
activities and greatly affected our production capacity,” Nzabanterura says. In 2013, Lake Victoria Environmental Management Project, Phase Two (LVEMP II) started activities to The activities to protect the Nyabarongo catchment in Rulindo and Gakenke (Base River rehabilitation and hillside terraces) Districts include setting up a ten-metres demarcation zones around the River, planting reeds and bamboos in the Buffer area and creating terraces on surrounding hillsides areas as a way of controlling erosion and strengthening better land use practices.
So far, 60.7 hectares of land have been terraced, 6,000 agro-forestry trees and 2000 fruits trees planted and reeds planted on an area stretching to over 60 hectares. In the neighbouring Gakenke District, 39.2 kilometres of demarcation lines separating agriculture plots from Base River were created, reeds (1,466,680 reed cuttings) and bamboos (16,000) planted along the River’s Buffer Zone and terraces created on 21.2 hectares; 82,400 agro-forestry and 400 fruit trees were planted and 406,000 reed cuttings planted in the terraced land.
Continue to P3 Issue No 004
March-May 2015
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LVEMP II Rwanda Quarterly Newsletter
The big story
Controlling erosion and encouraging sustainable land management terraces are improving agriculture production and contributing to environu How ment protection in Rulindo and Gakenke Districts From P2
Environment protection and improved livelihoods Apart from being a way of vironment from the adverse erosion, terraces have also creasing food production in
protecting the enconsequences of contributed to inthe two Districts.
"The impact has been immediate. We are living a totally different life," Nzabanterura says. "While in the past soil and nutrients were washed away and thus affecting the end production, today we are seeing a positive increase of our production thanks to the terraces that were created," he adds, as he harvests maize from his plantation which sits in the middle of the terraced area in Mbogo Sector, Rulindo District. Like Nzabanterura, Violetta Mukangiriye, a resident of Mucuro Village in Gakenke District, has also seen an improvement in her food production. On the same plot where the 25-year-old farmer used to get less than 50 kilograms of food upon harvesting, she now gets about 100 Kilograms. "The production has almost doubled," the young woman says, smilingly. "A lot has changed in our lives." But apart from the significant increase in food production, the terraces also stand as an important asset to the environment. Indeed, the terraces have stopped soils from being washed down the valley as a result of rampant erosion which had affected the area for years, affecting its environment and people's capacity to produce enough food. The ensuing reduction of soil erosion on the steep slopes of Rulindo and Gakenke Districts has, thus, improved the local environment and enhanced soil productivity. FIdele Nzabanterura in his maize plantation in Rulindo District
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Issue No 004
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LVEMPII Rwanda
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LVEMP II Rwanda Quarterly Newsletter
LVEMP II works to protect Base River
Last year, Lake Victoria Environmental Management Project, Phase Two (LVEMP II) started activities to rehabilitate Base River, one of the Nyabarongo River tributaries, in the Northern Gakenke District. The activities to protect Base included setting up a ten-metres demarcation zones around the River, planting reeds and bamboos in the Buffer area and creating terraces on surrounding hillsides areas as a way of controlling erosion, reducing the river pollution and the quantity of sediments that are carried by rainwater into the River and strengthen better land use practices. Currently, 39.2 kilometres of demarcation lines separating agriculture plots from Base River have been completed, reeds (1,466,680 reed cuttings) and bamboos (16,000) planted along the River's Buffer Zone and terraces created on a 21.2 hectares; 82,400 agro-forestry and 400 fruit trees were
Issue No 004
March-May 2015
also planted and 406,000 reed cuttings planted in the terraced land. Riparian residents and land owners around Base River say the interventions were much needed as they saved their land from being washed away. From time to time, the residents say, the River over-flooded leading to the destruction of their plots of land and damaging their crops. Apart from damaging their plots and crops, the river also removed soil nutrients and fertilisers from plantations, greatly affecting the agriculture production in the area. This created an environmental instability and hazard for local communities and thus the ardent need to act and protect it. In March 2014, LVEMP II launched activities to rehabilitate and protect the River for the benefit of
communities
living
in
the
area.
"The River does no more threaten our crops and land," says Jean de Dieu Niyibizi, who owns land near River Base. Residents also hope that once trees, bamboos and reeds that were planted in the River's Buffer Zone and on surrounding hills are grown, they will benefit from environment and commercial benefits associated with them-including regulating rainfalls, improving the quality of breathing air, harvest for timber and feeding their domestic animals. And, as time move on, the residents also hope to see a constant improvement of the local ecosystem. "By rehabilitating the River, we aim to restore the river’s natural ecosystem to the benefits of riparian communities," explains Annette Sylvie Muhayimana, LVEMP II National Project Coordinator.
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LVEMP II Rwanda Quarterly Newsletter
Rehabilitation of Yanze watershed starts u Yanze serves 80 % of Kigali residents in clean water The rehabilitation of Yanze watershed started in March with the plantation of bamboos along river Cyonyonyo Buffer zone in Rulindo District. Cyonyonyo is an upstream tributary of Yanze River. Rwanda Environment Management Project (REMA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Rwanda Natural resources Authority (RNRA) to implement the watershed rehabilitation activities. The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Natural Resources (MINIRENA) Fatina Mukarubibi presided over the launch of the activities which will take 18 months. Bamboos are set to be planted in the river's buffer zone to protect it against the adverse effects of poor land management and erosion and improve on the quality of its water. Water from Yanze River serves 80 per cent of residents in the City of Kigali, according to official figures. The protection of Yanze and its tributaries will then improve the quality of water that is distributed and used by the majority of households in Kigali. Speaking at the event, PS Mukarubibi reminded residents that rivers, wetlands and lakes ought to be protected because they are important reservoirs of water that people need to survive and which they use in their daily activities. She said the protection of Cyonyonyo and Yanze will result in a significant improvement in quality and quantity of water of the river, thus meeting the needs of communities living around the watershed and particularly those in Kigali. "It is our responsibility to protect this river," she told the hundreds of residents who graced the event. "We must protect our rivers, swamps, wetlands and lakes and adopt proper farming practices to avoid polluting these important water reservoirs. We also have the responsibility to protect slopes against soil erosion as a way of ensuring quality water," she added. Mukarubibi also encouraged them to respect the legal Buffer Zone around rivers, Wetlands and Lakes.
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UP: Some of the bamboos that were planted to protect Cyonyonyo, an upstream tributary of Yanze River
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DOWN: PS/MINIRENA Fatina Mukarubibi plants a bamboo as she launches the rehabilitation of Yanze watershed
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March-May 2015
The Organic Law N° 04/2005 of 08/04/2005 determining the modalities of protection, conservation and promotion of environment in Rwanda sets a protective buffer zone of ten (10) metres for any activity around a river or stream. For Lakes, the Buffer Zone is 50 metres.
ŠLVEMPII Rwanda
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LVEMP II Rwanda Quarterly Newsletter
Quest to improve beneficiaries’ livelihoods and excitement as LVEMP II hands over 27 cows to beneficiaries in u Joy Muhanga District
Lake Victoria Environmental Management Project Phase two (LVEMP II), a regional project implemented under the Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA), on April 2nd, 2015 handed over 27 cows to residents of Rugendabali Sector, Muhanga District, Southern Province. The cows were handed over to beneficiaries amidst pomp and colour in a ceremony that was characterised by songs, dances and speeches that sung the importance of cows for the improvement of socio-economic lives. The songs, dances and speeches also hailed the contribution of LVEMP II to the protection of the environment. LVEMP II has constructed radical terraces on an area of 25 hectares and 75 hectares of progressive terraces as part of efforts to protect Nyabarongo River sub-catchment, increase agriculture productivity in the area, control soil erosion, reduce the amount of soil and sediments carried by water downstream into Nyabarongo River and encourage farmers to adopt land consolidation. Agro-forestry trees and reeds were also planted.
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LVEMP II environmental protection activities goes hand in hand with efforts to improve the livelihoods of citizens to encourage sustainable environment and land management practices. The cow donation exercise, which obviously fell under the country's One-cowper-Family programme, is part of efforts to improve beneficiaries livelihoods. It was a day to remember for those who received the cow. "I am extremely happy. It is the first time for me to own a cow and undoubtedly, this is the beginning of a new chapter in my life," said an thrilled Virginie Nyiranshuti, one of the 27 beneficiaries. "I can now believe in a better future," she added. Nyandwi Waridi was equally joyful. He thanked LVEMP II for the cow and said he expected his life to change for the better. "I will look after this cow and I promise that I will do my best to be a model farmer. A new chapter has opened
in my life and I expect more improved living conditions," Nyandwi said. Speaking at the ceremony, the Director General of REMA Dr. Rose Mukankomeje urged beneficiaries to look after the cows well in order to expect production and good results. She told them the cows which were handed over to them is part of the country's efforts to improve their livelihoods and encouraged them to seize the opportunity to transform their lives. "All we wish for you is to see your lives improving and transforming continually," Dr Mukankomeje said. She further urged residents to continue protecting the environment for the benefits of the entire nation. Muhanga District Mayor Yvonne Mutakwasuku thanked LVEMP II and REMA in general for the donation. She also commended the Project for other interventions in the protection of environment noting that it is not only a great contribution to safeguarding the environment but also a contribution to improving people's livelihoods through job creation and increase of agriculture productivity.
Scroll to the next page for a PICTORIAL on the Ceremony
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LVEMP II Rwanda Quarterly Newsletter
In Pictures... LVEMP II hands over 27 cows to beneficiaries in Muhanga District
In total, LVEMP II donated 27 cows to its beneficiaries in Rugendabali Sector
Muhanga Mayor Yvonne MUTAKWASUKU Speaks at the hand-over Ceremony
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DG REMA Dr Rose MUKANKOMEJE (wearing a cap) was the Guest of Honour at the ceremony which was attended by local leaders and hundreds of area residents
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March-May 2015
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Hundreds of rsidents graced the event
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Itorero entertaining guests
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Beneficiaries were all smile after receiving the cows
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LVEMP II Rwanda Quarterly Newsletter
Recognising best Resource Efficiency & Cleaner Production practices u Winning industries are under LVEMP II Programme Sulfo Rwanda Industries has won the first ever Rwanda Resources Efficiency and Cleaner Production (RECP) Awards after beating a dozen of other industries that had been shortlisted for the awards. Horizon Sopyrwa, a pyrethrum processing plant based in Northern Province, and Kitabi Tea Company far in the south emerged first and second runners-up in the overall category. The awards which were organised for the first time in Rwanda are championed by Rwanda Resource Efficiency and Cleaner Production Centre (RRECPC) under the Ministry of Trade and Industry. In total seven industries were recognised. They are Sulfo Rwanda Industries and Horizon Sopyrwa, respectively first and second in the category of energy efficiency and Green House Gases minimization category; SORWATHE and UTEXRWA in water management, Inyange Industries and Sulfo Industries in the waste Management category and Kitabi Tea Factory followed by Mata Tea factory in the solid waste management category. Awarded Industries will participate in the Regional Resource Efficiency and Cleaner Production Award that is expected to take place in the coming months. The
award
ceremony
was
held
on April
2,
2015.
Over 110 industries in Rwanda are implementing the RECP program, with 70 industries involved in the Lake Victoria Environmental Management Project Phase Two (LVEMPII) program on Resource Efficiency and Cleaner Production.
Hon. Minister Francois KANIMBA awards Sulfo Rwanda Industries which emerged the Overall Winner in the first RECP Awards
All the industries that won the awards are under LVEMP II programme. While speaking at the awards ceremony, the Minister of Trade and Industry Francois Kanimba said : "This award initiative aims at raising awareness and creating a recognition system for businesses to adopt Resource Efficient and Cleaner Production techniques for reducing their costs of production, increasing environmental performance through minimization of waste and increasing competitiveness.” He added: “This initiative of protecting environment, saving energy and keeping production clean is fundamental for a country to promote green economy and green industry. It has tremendous impact on the competitiveness of business enterprises by reducing production costs”. Dr. Rose Mukankomeje, Director General of REMA, noted: “In the beginning, when we started raising awareness on Resource Efficiency and Cleaner Production benefits, industries were reluctant. But, now they understand its importance, it is no longer REMA’s business; it is about economic value.“she said. “I encourage all industries to keep the momentum. Cleaner production technologies will not only help them contribute to the preservation of our environment, but they will also help them maximize economic gains”.
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In total seven industries were recognised: Horizon Sopyrwa, SORWATHE, UTEXRWA, Inyange Industries, Sulfo Rwanda Industries, Kitabi Tea Factory and Mata Tea Factory. ©LVEMPII Rwanda
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LVEMP II Rwanda Quarterly Newsletter
LVEMP II impacting lives in Ngoma District Under LVEMP II interventions in Ngoma District: hectares of radical terraces have been creatn 140 ed and valorised. The terraces were stabilised with reeds and check-dams. Over 634,588 agro-forestry trees were as well planted;
trainings were organised targeting local farmn IPM ers and seeking to improve their farming methods
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lines separating people’s plots from n Demarcation Rweru-Akagera Wetland Complex were created
on a distance of 35.3 kilometres. The demarcated buffer zone was planted with trees to protect the wetland;
and land management practices;
highly invasive and dangerous water hyacinth n The weeds were removed from Lake Rweru on a sur-
Community Driven Development Sub-projects(CDDs) were initiated and supported to improve the welfare of local communities;
1500 individuals have so far DIRECTLY benn Over efited from the interventions, with thousands of oth-
face of 35.5 hectares;
er benefiting indirectly.
AII these activities have greatly impacted the lives of local residents. Here we bring you testimonies from two of them.
Matthias Sinzahera, Banana farmer & IPM Beneficiary
“
After attending a training on Integrated Pest Management that was organised by LVEMP II last year, I decided to uproot the poor quality bananas that occupied my plot and replace them with new, high productive banana varieties which, of course, I planted using the techniques I had learnt. I have planted FIA 25 variety and looking at how the bananas are growing, I have no doubt that the production will be very high. Before planting bananas on a large scale, I planted one seedling to test if these varieties are planted using the learnt techniques can give us improved production . The result was amazing. The banana start I harvested was so big that two well-built men failed to lift it. I am expecting to produce bananas of not less 100 kilograms each-which will surely improve my livelihoods.
”
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March-May 2015
Cyprien Mudasubira, Farmer & Representative of LVEMP II beneficiaries
“
There is a big difference between the time when we started working here and today. First, it was very hard for many of us to meet our basic needs. But thanks to the jobs that we were offered during the implementation of this project, many of us have moved many strides in improving their welfare. For instance while in the past we struggled to raise money to subscribe to the community health insurance scheme, with some of us selling their animals to raise the remittances, today it has become very simple as we have a reliable source of money. Also, everyone of us has an account in the Savings and Credit Cooperative (SACCO), where we deposit our savings for for future needs. However, the most important benefits from this project have come in form of increased agriculture productivity. After the creation of the radical terraces, majority of us saw their production doubling and tripling-sometimes even beyond that. For example, on the same plot of land-which I estimate to be about half a hectare-where I used to harvest only 2 sacks of maize (weighing 50 kilograms each), I got nine sacks the season that followed the creation of the radical terraces. This season we have chosen to grow beans and I am expecting at least eight sacks (400 kilograms) up from the only one I used to get before. That is quite a huge increase in such a short period and it has very powerful implications on our lives. As a matter of fact, out of the production I got after the creation of the terraces I have bought a cow and renovated my house. That’s something I couldn’t afford in the past. I assure you I am not the only one reaping from such benefits. It is a general case. Here, the thing is: in the past soil and nutrients were being washed away by water . Like that the production remained very low. But this time, thanks to the terraces, arable land, soil nutrients, fertilisers or manure can’t be removed by water. They rather remain and even the water penetrates the soil and go to feed our crops instead of destroying them. As a result, the production increases significantly. In addition to that increase, the terraces have also impacted the environment as the quantity of soils that were being carried down into Lake Rweru has drastically reduced and we are noticing that the quality of water has started to improve. The impact has been immediate.
”
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LVEMP II Rwanda Quarterly Newsletter
In Pictures...
NTAC Members tour physical activities in Ngoma District
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The 8th National Technical Advisory Committee (NTAC) Meeting of the Lake Victoria Environmental Management Project Phase Two (LVEMP II) was held in Ngoma District between April 22-24, 2015. It was an occasion for NTAC members to visit some of our physical activities and interact with beneficiaries. At the end of the tour, the Members said they were impressed by the achievements
Before visiting physical activities, NTAC Members met with beneficiaries and other residents in Jarama sector to discuss the achievements and impact of the Project
The tour started with a visit to terraces. 140 hectares were terraced and valorised. Beneficiaries (Centre) joined the field visit
They also visited the protection of Rweru-Akagera Wetland Complex by the establisment of a strong Buffer zone and removal of water hyacinth from Lake Rweru
Despite heavy and constant rains, the NTAC Members endured and continued with the tour till the end
The visit concluded with a visit to model plots which were developped by farmers after LVEMP II trained them in Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
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