Scoping mission on water in rwanda - Partners voor Water

<strong>Scoping</strong> Mission on Rwanda for Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Kigali
Thursday 11 th ,August, 2011: MINAGRI, 9.00 a.m.
On Thursday, we met MINAGRI, the chairman of the irrigation task force Jean Jacques Mbonigaba.
He specifically explained the achievement of the task force:
- They now have an irrigation master plan for the whole country;
- District irrigation master plan;
However, he emphasized on the lack of the irrigation policy as well as strategic action plan.
Currently, they have an ambition of irrigating 100,000 ha by 2020; where 35,000 ha will be on hillside and
65,000 ha on marchlands.
In marchlands they have already irrigated 17,000 ha where 90% of it is for rice cultivation.
Main donors in the irrigation are for marchlands, through RSSP; it 100% WB funded where for LWH it is 80%
WB funded. Other projects in irrigation include the Irrigation project in Bugesera which is funded by the
AfDB, Irrigation project of Gatsibo funded by IFAD and another irrigation project for Bugesera which is
fudned by Lux Development.
Beside donors, the government of Rwanda too, is investing heavily in the irrigation sector where 40% of the
national budget is for irrigation on both marchlands and hillsides.
Currently there are hillsides irrigation projects in Kirehe and Nyagatare for 1,000 ha, funded by the
government, where water for irrigation will comes from lakes.
In regards to Marchlands, they are now funding the development of 2,000 ha on small marchlands in 11
districts.
Each irrigation project small or big goes hands in hands with farmers cooperative and water users association
establishment.
Specifically water users association is a mandatory as there is even a ministerial decree in that regards. In the
near future, they will even be represented at ministerial level.
It is well developed in such way that they are even being registered by the Ministry of Justice before being
operational.
Thursday 11 th ,August, 2011: NBI-NELSAP, 10.30 a.m.
We also met Emmanuel Olet, the engineer in charge of water resource management department under the
NBI-NELSAP; which has explained to us the transboundary action on the Rwandan side.
Several studies including navigability studies on AKagera, Integrated river basin management and
development strategy for Akagera river were developed.
Reports of those different studies are available.
Thursday 11 th ,August, 2011: EWSA, 11.30 a.m.
We met the director general of EWSA, Yves Muyange, who shortly explained the water sector under EWSA.
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