By Seif Gracien Hasingizwimana | hasingizwimanashaggy@gmail.com
“We used to work in our neighbors’ fields instead of earning real pay that could help us improve our lives, they paid us with food. Because the biggest problem we faced was hunger. Development wasn’t even something we thought about. How can you develop when you’re hungry?” poses Loise Hagenimana, a resident of Guriro, Rambura in Nyabihu district.
For years, poverty and food insecurity defined Hagenimana’s life. Although she owned a small piece of land, she spent most of her time working in other people’s farms just to secure a meal for her family.
“By the time I returned to cultivate my own land, the planting season was already over. My crops never had a chance to grow,” she recalls.
This changed with the introduction of the Partnership for Resilient and Inclusive Small Livestock Markets (PRISM) project.
The five-year (2021-2026) project funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and Heifer International, aims to reduce poverty and improve nutrition for rural households.
Rolled out in 15 districts across Rwanda, the project provides poultry, pigs, goats and sheep to rural households as start-up capital. The beneficiaries are then required to pass on the first offspring of their livestock to other community members, extending the impact.
Beyond giving animals, PRISM provides training in livestock management, financial literacy, and veterinary services.
Hagenimana is part of a group of 50 farmers, 38 women and 12 men, who have benefited from the project in Guriro.
The project has benefitted 36,000 households, majority being women. “We used to farm poorly, but PRISM trained us in climate-smart agriculture, irrigation, and financial management,” she says.
The training has not only improved food security but also increased her independence. “I can now contribute to household income without depending entirely on my husband,” she says, adding that the new financial stability has reduced tensions at home.
Mukankusi Brigitte, a mother of four from Rambura in Nyabihu district, says PRISM has taught her about environmental conservation and sustainable farming practices.
These include planting trees, using organic fertilizer, and harvesting rainwater to reduce soil erosion.
The results have been significant. Brigitte’s family now harvests up to two tons of potatoes each season, generating about 400,000 Rwandan francs (US$ 276).
A key innovation supporting these gains is Azolla, a fast-growing aquatic plant rich in protein that farmers cultivate in small ponds to supplement animal feed.
This rapid growth allows Azolla to absorb large amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, making it a natural tool for reducing greenhouse gases while producing nutritious animal feed.
Azolla enriches soils naturally and does not need synthetic fertilizers.
This natural soil enrichment reduces emissions linked to fertilizer production while also improving soil health-an important step toward regenerative agriculture.
“Azolla helps us reduce the cost of feeding our livestock while increasing productivity,” Brigitte says.
Nyiransengiyumva Charlotte, from Gisesero, Nyamasheke district, raises pigs and grows crops.
Under the project, they were trained to use organic waste to produce animal feed, including Azolla. She notes that one of the biggest challenges farmers face is the high cost of animal feed.
“Even though we grow Azolla, our animals can’t survive on it alone. We still have to mix it with other varieties of feed, and those are expensive. If feed prices at the market went down, it would be much easier for us to expand our livestock farming,” Charlotte says.
She also points out that finding a reliable market for their animals remains a serious problem. There is no well-established place where they can sell their pigs. “If we could get support to build or access a proper butchery facility, we would be able to sell the meat ourselves and make a fair profit.
Right now, we’re forced to sell to middlemen who pay us very little, and we end up earning far less than we should,” Charlotte adds.
Dr. Abias Maniragaba, a researcher, emphasizes the importance of empowering women in agriculture.
“Women are key to sustainable agriculture and climate resilience. They’re more likely to invest in their families and communities, and they’re more vulnerable to climate change,” he says.
Women in the project have learned to adapt to climate change by using sustainable farming practices, such as planting drought-resistant crops and using organic fertilizer.
They’re also using Azolla to reduce their reliance on commercial animal feed and improve their productivity.
The project’s focus on empowering women has had a ripple effect, with women becoming more confident and influential in their communities. They’re making decisions, contributing to household income, and improving food security.
