It is a daylight morning, Byukusenge Thomas with avocado trees in his hands while his daughter Munyana Rose carrying a sand basin fulfilled with seeds of avocadoes heading to his farm situated in Mahoko cell, Kanama sector in Rubavu district, Western Province of Rwanda.
Kanama sector, is one of most defenseless area of climate change which deeply impelled by flooding and erosion from
Karambo river and Sebeya River.
By reason of over cultivation, poor farming, cut off trees at large scale and empty hills from trees, whenever rain falls, Kanama residents always face very serious disastrous problems of flooding and erosion.
“My fertile lands, crops, domestic animals and my house all have gone due to flooding and erosion”, said Byukusenge.
Recently a total of 924 housing units were destroyed massively by heavy rains which caused by floods in Rubavu District. The heavy cloudburst also with sustenance of Sebeya River has left hundreds of houses destroyed in Kanama, Rugerero and Nyundo sectors and the devastation has left hundreds of people in tears and sorrow.
“Kanama sector used to have trees in its hills and it was not easy to see erosion, but from the day the trees was cut it off, we are experiencing flooding and erosion also causing us very serious disease such as cholera and food insecurity as a whole due to what we have cultivated were swept away by erosion”, added Byukusenge
River Sebeya in Rubavu District, Western Province, has destroying public and private property, including homes and crops for 4,233 households, as well as bridges and two power plants. Households across the district lost property worth millions of Dollars.
The river flooded early this month, claiming the lives of seven people in the process. Residents in the area say it was the first time River Sebeya such dangerous move.
Gilbert Habyarimana, the Mayor of Rubavu District, told The Press that 4,200 households lost all their properties and homes, while 433 other families only need shelter.
“We are calling on authorities, partners and all people of goodwill to support these families because the district cannot do it alone as a lot of money is required. Long-term solutions should also be devised as we try short-term interventions,” he said.
He added that 356 toilets were also damaged, exposing the area to health risks.
Landslides and floods hit several parts of Rwanda after a period of heavy rainfall. The officials say that Gakenke, Muhanga, Rubavu and Ngororero have been affected seriously.
The national organ in charge of water and forestry has announced plans to plant up to 225,440 fruit trees as part of broad efforts to erosion as well as fighting malnutrition.
Agroforestry contributes in fuel wood, timber, fodder, food, fruits, livestock and bioenergy, it enhance food production, enhance rural income ,resource conservation, soil amelioration, insects control, nutrition and health, water and soil nutrients, and enhance soil moisture availability.
“We all know the role of fruits, but it is challenging when you do not have fruits nearby you and have to walk long distances to buy them at very expensive cost, that is why as family we have standing up to plant hundred fruit trees in our farms, so as to fight land degradation as well as securing food insecurity in our family”, said Munyana Rose
“Our ancestors have given us productive land. We do have to use it healthily, economically and profitably by planting fruit trees. When our beloved children fall sick, we do have access to fruits. We do have ways to overcome chronicle malnourished diseases”, added Munyana
The family of Byukusenge and Munyana has planted 400 fruits trees in their farms and they have no doubt that agroforestry has potential to improve the production of food, environmental friendly as well as saving ecosystem.
By planting fruit trees, it is not only saving a human from disastrous of climate change, food insecurity but also it is about saving biodiversity from disappearance.
“We used to have different types of long –tail-birds, cranes and bees at large scale, but now days some of them have started disappearing in our community due to climate degradation.
The only way to restore our ecosystem is to support our local small holder farmers who are facing the issue of soil erosion, flooding and climate change as well by reforesting, and afforesting where it seems to be deforested but also sustain our landscape mountains by using terraces and smart farming”, said Hategekimana Jean Baptiste, the chairman of Rwanda Youth in Agribusiness Forum (RYAF) during an exclusive discussion with Habimana Jean Claude.
Appropriate land management and use, including agroforestry, can help solve many challenge Rwanda is facing include rapid of growing population.
Agroforestry for the small scale land proprietor can mix in their farm different types of trees such as indigenous crops, nutritious grasses, short trees, tall trees, timber trees, avocadoes trees, mango trees, papaya trees, shrubs and many more but also providing more contented environment for many kinds of wildlife.
According to the Ministry of Environment report of 2015, 29.2 per cent of Rwanda’s territory was covered in forest. Vision 2020’s goal is to increase forest cover to 30 per cent.
Natural forests, which cover 10.8 per cent of the country, are comprised of an association of forested in national parks, forest reserves, natural and gallery forests and other residue forests.
According to Emmanuel Kabera, environmentalist at Rwanda Environment Management Authority says that the 2019 will end up, the country has planted a total of 38,119 hectares of agroforestry, 4,800 hectares of standard forestry and 225,440 fruit trees. This will be in line to achieve the target of covering 30% of the country with forests. Currently, that figure stands at 29.8%.
 |
| Byukusenge Thomas with avocado trees in his hands heading to his farm. Photo by HABIMANA Jean Claude |
Karambo river and Sebeya River.
By reason of over cultivation, poor farming, cut off trees at large scale and empty hills from trees, whenever rain falls, Kanama residents always face very serious disastrous problems of flooding and erosion.
“My fertile lands, crops, domestic animals and my house all have gone due to flooding and erosion”, said Byukusenge.
Recently a total of 924 housing units were destroyed massively by heavy rains which caused by floods in Rubavu District. The heavy cloudburst also with sustenance of Sebeya River has left hundreds of houses destroyed in Kanama, Rugerero and Nyundo sectors and the devastation has left hundreds of people in tears and sorrow.
 |
| Schools, Churches, Hospitals, farms were the most affected by erosion and flooding in Rubavu District, Western of Rwanda |
River Sebeya in Rubavu District, Western Province, has destroying public and private property, including homes and crops for 4,233 households, as well as bridges and two power plants. Households across the district lost property worth millions of Dollars.
 |
Joint
forces between Army, local authorities and farmers during the day Sebeya River destroyed
massively farmers’ farm. They are packing sands into sacks to put on
River sides
|
Gilbert Habyarimana, the Mayor of Rubavu District, told The Press that 4,200 households lost all their properties and homes, while 433 other families only need shelter.
“We are calling on authorities, partners and all people of goodwill to support these families because the district cannot do it alone as a lot of money is required. Long-term solutions should also be devised as we try short-term interventions,” he said.
He added that 356 toilets were also damaged, exposing the area to health risks.
 |
| Hundreds of sacks are ready to stop temporally flooding which enters farmers' farms |
The national organ in charge of water and forestry has announced plans to plant up to 225,440 fruit trees as part of broad efforts to erosion as well as fighting malnutrition.
Agroforestry contributes in fuel wood, timber, fodder, food, fruits, livestock and bioenergy, it enhance food production, enhance rural income ,resource conservation, soil amelioration, insects control, nutrition and health, water and soil nutrients, and enhance soil moisture availability.
“We all know the role of fruits, but it is challenging when you do not have fruits nearby you and have to walk long distances to buy them at very expensive cost, that is why as family we have standing up to plant hundred fruit trees in our farms, so as to fight land degradation as well as securing food insecurity in our family”, said Munyana Rose
“Our ancestors have given us productive land. We do have to use it healthily, economically and profitably by planting fruit trees. When our beloved children fall sick, we do have access to fruits. We do have ways to overcome chronicle malnourished diseases”, added Munyana
 |
| Munyana carrying a sand basin fulfilled with seeds of avocadoes heading to her farm. Photo by HABIMANA Jean Claude |
By planting fruit trees, it is not only saving a human from disastrous of climate change, food insecurity but also it is about saving biodiversity from disappearance.
“We used to have different types of long –tail-birds, cranes and bees at large scale, but now days some of them have started disappearing in our community due to climate degradation.
The only way to restore our ecosystem is to support our local small holder farmers who are facing the issue of soil erosion, flooding and climate change as well by reforesting, and afforesting where it seems to be deforested but also sustain our landscape mountains by using terraces and smart farming”, said Hategekimana Jean Baptiste, the chairman of Rwanda Youth in Agribusiness Forum (RYAF) during an exclusive discussion with Habimana Jean Claude.
 |
| On Google Map, shows Sebeya River crossing different parties of Western Rwanda, in four districts such as Rubavu, Nyabihu, Ngororero, and Rutsiro. Source Google Map |
Appropriate land management and use, including agroforestry, can help solve many challenge Rwanda is facing include rapid of growing population.
Agroforestry for the small scale land proprietor can mix in their farm different types of trees such as indigenous crops, nutritious grasses, short trees, tall trees, timber trees, avocadoes trees, mango trees, papaya trees, shrubs and many more but also providing more contented environment for many kinds of wildlife.
According to the Ministry of Environment report of 2015, 29.2 per cent of Rwanda’s territory was covered in forest. Vision 2020’s goal is to increase forest cover to 30 per cent.
Natural forests, which cover 10.8 per cent of the country, are comprised of an association of forested in national parks, forest reserves, natural and gallery forests and other residue forests.
According to Emmanuel Kabera, environmentalist at Rwanda Environment Management Authority says that the 2019 will end up, the country has planted a total of 38,119 hectares of agroforestry, 4,800 hectares of standard forestry and 225,440 fruit trees. This will be in line to achieve the target of covering 30% of the country with forests. Currently, that figure stands at 29.8%.
 |
| Planting agroforestry has become culture and farmers are doing it with two purposes. One fight erosion and two fight malnutrition in Rubavu District. |
 |
| Children are not left behind as the keymakers to challenge climate change in coming years |
 |
| Farmers have now understand the role of preserving lands for catles as they used to cultivate every places regardless its particularities |
 |
| On the top of this mountain, it used to have water flooding down with soil, but nowdays they are many trees protect lands from flooding |
 |
| It looks green than desert |
 |
| Inside the farmers farms, they are many trees planting in their farms |
WATCH the farmers' achievement here: Promote Environmentally Sustainable Agriculture in Rwanda
STORY BY HABIMANA JEAN CLAUDE
No comments:
Post a Comment