Trócaire helps Rwandan farmers adapt to climate change
Sustainable farming practices and irrigation systems are improving harvests and incomes for vulnerable communities.
Trócaire and its partners are implementing agroecological approaches in Rwanda to help vulnerable farming communities produce more food and build livelihoods resilient to climate shocks. This method connects sustainable farming with climate resilience, healthy soils, and local knowledge, enabling farmers to adapt to a changing climate and sustain their farms. In Manwari Cell, Mbazi Sector, Nyamagabe District, these interventions are visibly improving harvests and increasing agricultural productivity.
Farmers who previously struggled with insufficient water now benefit from gravity-fed and solar-powered irrigation systems, allowing year-round cultivation. Marleen Masclee, Country Director of Trócaire Rwanda, stated that agriculture is inseparable from climate resilience, household income, nutrition, and environmental protection. The organization aims for farmers to produce food sustainably, ensuring healthy soils for future generations. Trócaire has worked in Rwanda since 1994, shifting focus to climate resilience and livelihoods.
Through partnerships with organizations like DUHAMIC-ADRI and DUTERIMBERE, supported by the Scottish Government, Trócaire has facilitated terracing of hundreds of hectares. Farmers' cooperatives such as UNICOPAGI and advocacy groups like CCOAIB also contribute to supporting farmers and informing them about agricultural policies. These interventions are designed to provide lasting benefits to communities.
Why it mattersVulnerable farming communities in Rwanda are improving their food production, nutrition, and incomes through sustainable agricultural practices and better water access.