Rwanda: What It Will Take to Decentralise Small-Scale Irrigation

What the report says

Rwanda is weighing changes to how small-scale irrigation equipment is delivered, with The New Times reporting that authorities and civil-society groups are discussing a more decentralized model. The issue is especially important for farmers in dry periods, when access to working irrigation can determine whether crops survive or yields fall. In Gatsibo District, cooperative leader Froduard Bazi said equipment shortages and broken machinery have left farmers relying on labor-intensive watering methods, hurting production.

The report says a CCOAIB study found farmers can wait about three months under the current procurement system to obtain small-scale irrigation technology. It recommends moving procurement and application approval closer to districts, alongside stronger local budgets, clearer rules and better staffing. According to the assessment, none of the four districts studied — Gatsibo, Muhanga, Nyamagabe and Nyaruguru — had a dedicated budget line for small-scale irrigation, and none had a dedicated irrigation officer.

Florence Uwamahoro, acting director general of the Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board, said decentralization has begun but will depend on resources and district capacity. She warned that shifting procurement without funding would not solve the problem. The report also highlights a possible larger role for private companies in supplying, repairing and servicing irrigation equipment, while RAB works with Rwanda Engineering and Manufacturing Corporation to build domestic supply capacity. Rwanda aims to expand land under small-scale irrigation from 24,873 hectares in 2024 to 41,031 hectares by 2029.