JICA Rwanda Office

Irrigation strategic planning advisory services (Sept 2011 - Sept 2013)

Rwanda's economy mainly depends on the agricultural sector, particularly food crop production. Poverty reduction therefore largely depends on efforts made on the modernization of this sector. Although Rwanda possesses considerable water resources, they are not evenly distributed. For example, while water is abundant in the marshlands, facilities for storing it elsewhere for irrigation purposes are lacking. Farming during dry seasons is thus limited in most parts of Rwanda.

To response on need of agriculture irrigation, the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources set up a specific task force of irrigation and mechanization mandated to coordinate, plan, and initiate irrigation projects. To contribute to the government effort, JICA dispatched a Japanese advisor to strengthen the capacity of the above Task Force in planning and implementing irrigation projects.