Rwanda - Mutara Agricultural Development Project (Phase I)

The Mutara agricultural development project is among the priority actions defined in Rwanda’s 4th National Economic and Social Development Plan. Its aim is to satisfy food requirements and ensure a better utilization of manpower resources through the creation of jobs in agriculture and agroprocessing. By its actions in favour of education, health, and drinking-water supply, it will contribute to improving living standards. The country will save foreign exchange because of the import-substitution which will result from the additional food production. The project will make for protection of the ecological environment through better management of its micro-climatic, biological and pedological components. It consists in: (i) developing and farming an area of 1,470 ha for cultivation under irrigation of rice and soybeans, and an area of 80 ha for cultivation under irrigation of fodder crops; (ii) providing extension and supervisory services to 20,300 farm families on an area of about 14,000 ha devoted to rainfed farming; (iii) improving traditional pastures over 14,800 ha and providing advisory and supervisory services to herdsmen’s groups and assistance in improving herd management; (iv) assisting in the settling, organization and technical supervision of the beneficiaries, notably the establishment of a drinking-water system intended to serve 110,000 persons.