Farmers in Mushishiro sector, Muhanga district, say a new solar-powered irrigation system has transformed how they water their crops, reducing hours of labor to just minutes.
Before the technology was introduced, irrigating 100 liters of water could take at least three hours. Today, the same task takes no more than 30 minutes, according to the farmers.
Hakizimana Emmanuel, a local farmer, said the system has eliminated the exhausting practice of carrying jerrycans or basins to the field.
“I thank the authorities who helped us access solar technology for irrigation,” he said. “Before, we would spend two to three hours watering with jerrycans. Now, it takes no more than thirty minutes.”
Another farmer, Mukamana Marie Josephine, recalled that during dry seasons, she sometimes lacked the energy to irrigate her crops at all, which led to poor harvests.
“Honestly, before this technology, there were times we couldn’t irrigate at all, and sometimes our crops withered under the sun,” she said. “Now, we can irrigate easily and no longer struggle with basins or jerrycans.”
Bizimana Eric, vice mayor of Muhanga District in charge of economic development, said the local government’s priority is to support professional farming that raises incomes.
“Our program is to modernize agriculture so that every farmer practices it professionally, making it profitable and life-changing,” he said. “We want farmers to move away from subsistence farming and focus on farming for income.”
Rwanda, like many countries, sees agricultural technology as critical to boosting food production for a rapidly growing global population. Experts say new technologies will be vital in meeting demand over the next 50 years, as the world’s population is expected to nearly double.
