Surplus Benefits - Smallholder Farmers

With our partners, AEE Rwanda implements improved agriculture projects across Rwanda. Improved agriculture encompasses the use of improved and certified seeds used, accurate application of traditional organic and mineral fertilisers, optimal plantings and cultivation for each type of crop, and post-harvest handling and storage. Together, these techniques can help smallholder farmers obtain dramatic increases in produce from their farming.

Members of the JYAMBERE-MUHINZI producer groups attend a Farmer Field School, instructed by NSHAMIHIGO Anicet.

After AEE Rwanda forms the farmers into producer groups, the first step is Farmer Field School, to learn new agricultural techniques that make the most efficient use of seeds and fertiliser, and help farmers adapt to a changing climate.

Solange, the president of the JYAMBERE-MUHINZI producer group in Nyaruguru district says, "before I was taught modern farming, I would farm in any way and not get good results - let’s say seeds of maize, I would put in four seeds and not use the right spacing, I would put too little (organic) fertiliser and not use mineral fertiliser. That would cause me to have a poor harvest."

The group's first harvest with the project showed just how productive their land can be. Francoise, a friend of Solange's in the JYAMBERE-MUHINZI producer group, was very happy with the results she obtained from improved agriculture, "I used to farm without using mineral fertiliser because I could not afford it, but the project provided that to me. I had a great harvest even though we had bad weather. Before, I never harvested more than 50kgs of beans but last season I got 170kgs, and I was able to feed my children."

The ABISUNGANYE produce group

Seraphina is a farmer with the ABISUNGANYE producer group in Rwanda's Eastern Province. Usually, midway through the dry season, their harvested food stores would be exhausted, and they would be searching around the district to find casual labouring work to buy food from markets. But now, Seraphina says, "ever since the project started, they have given us good seeds that have more nutrition, and after the good harvest we had surplus to sell at the market. We have been able to save money, and what we have saved is supporting us in these times. Before we used to go find work for food for our children, but now we have the beans and we can buy other foods as well. We have the strength to keep our children feeling good."

And not having to go far from home looking for labouring work means that Seraphina and her group have the time to work on their own farms, preparing for the next season.

The members of producer groups meet regularly and are encouraged to start working as a savings group. Theogene explains that "because they have formed a group and joined forces, put ideas together, and saved money - that has brought improvement. For example, although the project has bought for them fertilisers and seeds, they also bought lime [used to modify soil acicity] for themselves through those savings."

The ABISUNGANYE group not only adopted improved agricultural techniques, but also amalgamated their individual plots into a collective farm that they work together. Seraphina says that "cultivating together speeds up work. When we come together we work and work happily and that motivates us to speed up, and also to check up on one another - know how your neighbour woke up and the problems they might be facing. Working together is very important to all of us."

The group's collective harvest of beans increased from 1.3 tonnes before the project to 2.5 tonnes after their first harvest with the project.

This surplus produce is important to the sustainability past the life of the project.

Theogene is the AEE Rwanda field officer for the project. On farmers' prior use of agricultural inputs, such as improved seeds and mineral fertiliser, he says that there are two categories of farmers in the project, "those who were capable of buying inputs for themselves but were not aware of the importance of buying enough - they would buy less to save money and not get enough produce - and those who didn't have the means to buy enough fertiliser." 

The project is providing improved seeds and mineral fertiliser to the producer groups, and the farmers are directly and personally experiencing the benefits of increased harvests, food security, and a surplus to sell. This ensures that the farmers have the knowledge to use agricultural inputs, and through their increased incomes, the means to keep buying the seeds and fertilisers after the project finishes.

The ABISUNGANYE producer group already has 300,000 Rwf in savings, and they plan to keep saving. Their fund will ensure that they can buy seeds and fertiliser in the future and can issue loans to group members for small businesses, diversifying and further increasing their income.

Ruth and Aimé, agricultural input dealers.

Aimé is a trained agronomist who runs an agricultural supply business, an agridealer. His business is one of the agridealers working with AEE Rwanda projects to supply the seeds and fertiliser, and to advise customers on their proper use.

Aimé keeps track of farmers' purchases, visits them at their fields, and is quickly told of their harvests. The harvest of Irish potatoes from the project's first season was three and half times the usual. Not only did this secure food and income for the farmers' families, but it dropped potato prices at the district markets, increased the number of local sellers, and reduced crime.

Irish potato prices had been high as the local supply had run out and potatoes were being imported from other districts, incurring transport costs. The high prices had driven local sellers out of business, further reducing the supply. Once the harvest from the project's farmers came in, the plentiful local supply immediately dropped prices. The farmers were still getting their usual price for local potatoes, and the local sellers could restart their business on this new supply. And with cheaper food, Aimé says that "stealing reduced in the community, because there is not the hunger that causes people to steal. It is what we call social and human security," as result of better food security.

Examples like this are why Aimé is confident that the local farmers will continue to come to his shop and buy improved seeds and fertilisers once the project's support ends, "it is easy to convince well-fed people who are committed to never going back to being hungry as they used to be, than to mobilise someone who tells you ‘it is always like this, I have never had a good harvest'."

Theogene says that after the first harvest, "the farmers were happy but also surprised. They were used to what they knew, and didn't know what was possible." Farmers who are not part of the project are taking note. They talk to the friends and neighbours in the project, "and they see the results of following the following the agricultural rules."