APPE launches the Campaign for Cimate Change Adaptation Policies in Musanze District

Farmers and agricultural stakeholders in the highland areas, particularly in Musanze and Nyabihu districts, have been sensitized on the benefits of practicing environmentally friendly agriculture that focuses on conserving and restoring soil health, with the goal of achieving sustainable production and improving farmers’ livelihoods.

This was discussed during an awareness and campaigning meeting organized by Appui au Paysant Vulnérable pour la Protection de l’Environnement (APPE), an organization affiliated with the Eastern and Southern African Small-Scale Farmers Forum (ESAFF), which brings together smallholder farmer organizations.

APPE is implementing the Project subgranted by ESAFF which is Campaigning for Climate Change Adaptation Policies and Accountable Fundng.

Participants in the meeting were mainly small-scale farmers cultivating crops such as pyrethrum, potatoes, maize, beans, and other varieties. The trained farmers said the sessions helped them understand mistakes they had previously made in their farming practices,particularly those that negatively affected soil quality, the environment, and yields reduced by climate variability.

They noted that the knowledge gained will help them change their farming approaches by prioritizing practices that conserve soil while safeguarding the health of farmers and consumers.

Isaac Nzabarinda, a farmer and certified seed potato producer from Kinigi Sector in Musanze District, said poor farming practices can lead to soil degradation and environmental damage, ultimately affecting both farmers’ and consumers’ health.

“When farming is done without considering its consequences, it can degrade the soil to the point where it no longer produces adequate yields, and both farmers and consumers suffer the consequences,” he said.

He explained that excessive and poorly regulated use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides can destroy soil organisms, causing the soil to lose its natural fertility. This can also lead to livestock diseases through contaminated fodder, and expose people to serious illnesses such as cancer due to polluted food.

“In some cases, fertilizers and pesticides are misused within a short period, killing the soil, making animals sick, and exposing people to serious health risks because of the food we consume,” he added.

Nzabarinda emphasized the need for farmers to change their mindset by learning crop rotation, using well-prepared organic manure, and reducing the use of environmentally harmful chemicals.

“When we use properly prepared organic manure and practice crop rotation, we obtain high-quality, long-lasting produce that can even be reused for future seed production,” he said.

Oscar Mpiranya, APPE’s national coordinator for small-scale farmers in Rwanda, explained that the organization’s core objectives include helping farmers access timely information, conducting advocacy at both local and national levels, and linking farmers to services that improve productivity and livelihoods.

“This activity aimed to raise awareness on soil conservation and climate change adaptation, in collaboration with Musanze District authorities and various farmer cooperatives. Among the activities we note the trees planting ,agro forestry trees bought by APPE and donated to.members of Tuzamurane cooperatives of 245 avocado farmers in Kinigi Sector of Musanze District.”he said

He added that special focus was placed on pyrethrum farmers through RPCU (Rwanda Pyrethrum Cooperative Union), which comprises eight cooperatives, each with more than 3,000 members.

“We chose to work through RPCU because it has a large membership and operates across much of the volcanic region, allowing environmental conservation messages to reach many farmers in a short time,” he noted.

Jean Ngendahayo, in charge of agriculture, livestock, and natural resources in Musanze District, said such trainings are crucial for implementing government policies on environmental protection and promoting organic and sustainable agriculture.

“Campaining farmers in environmentally friendly agriculture helps the government achieve its goals of protecting the environment while ensuring sufficient and high-quality agricultural production,” he said.

To address climate change impacts, Ngendahayo encouraged farmers to enroll in agricultural insurance schemes.

“When farmers face disasters such as heavy rainfall, floods, or prolonged drought, insurance helps them recover and continue farming instead of abandoning their activities,” he explained.

Farmers were also reminded of the importance of agroforestry, using soil conservation measures, and controlling erosion to maintain soil fertility and prevent soil loss during heavy rains.

At the international level, agricultural and food institutions such as FAO, IFAD, and CGIAR have promoted strategies to combat climate change, including climate-smart agriculture, soil and water conservation, increased use of organic fertilizers, and integrated crop, livestock systems.

These approaches help farmers increase productivity, achieve food and nutrition security, and improve soil fertility through crop residues and livestock manure, while livestock production also benefits from crop outputs.

Ultimately, conserving soil through sustainable agriculture enables farmers to secure adequate yields, achieve household food security, improve nutrition, and strengthen family incomes,while protecting the environment for long-term sustainability.

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