FAO to launch project to support flood victims in Kirehe
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in collaboration with the government of Rwanda will launch tomorrow a new project to support farmers affected by floods in Kirehe District to restore their livelihoods following the floods that washed away farmlands and animals.
The majority of the people of Kirehe depend on casual agricultural work and for households’ own subsistence farming.
Kirehe is one of the districts that was severely affected by the 2019 disasters that resulted in submerging of more than 50 hectares of rice fields and about 3,954 Ha of cropland while about 90 domestic animals died.
Through the project “Emergency support to rehabilitate and enhance agricultural production capacities of farmers affected by floods in Kirehe District”, affected households will receive inputs such as certified seeds and fertilizers to recommence their crop production, and rehabilitate the irrigation infrastructures destroyed by the sediments depositions in the lowlands.
Also, 3 000 farmers will benefit from the cash for work transfer meant to support their livelihood needs for the entire agricultural season, and about 250 Hectares of cropland will be rehabilitated.
The project operationalization is an important milestone that spearhead the other initiatives set by Kirehere District aimed to mitigate the negative impacts of floods and mudslides resulting from recent adverse climatic events by promoting prompt resumption of agricultural production.
During implementation, it will build farmers’ capacities for sustainable management of future such disasters in the district, with 50 Facilitators and 3 000 farmer facilitators and technician farmers trained in preparedness and response to future shocks.
