For many years, recurrent droughts in Kirehe District posed a serious challenge to agricultural production, reducing harvests and threatening household livelihoods. Today, however, farmers in Musaza Sector are witnessing a different reality, thanks to climate-smart investments implemented through the Landscape Approach to Climate-Proof the Rural Settlement Project (LDCF 3).

Implemented by the Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA) in partnership with Kirehe District and financed by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), LDCF 3 is a six-year initiative running from 2022 to 2028. The project seeks to strengthen climate resilience, restore degraded ecosystems, improve livelihoods, and support communities relocated from high-risk zones.

According to the LDCF 3 Project Manager, the project is anchored on three major pillars: providing decent housing for vulnerable households, rehabilitating degraded landscapes, and promoting climate-smart agriculture to improve livelihoods.

Since its launch, the project has made notable progress. Between 2022 and 2024, significant efforts focused on relocating families living in disaster-prone areas. Of the 500 households expected to benefit, more than 220 houses have already been completed across Kirehe and Gakenke districts.

At the same time, LDCF 3 is restoring degraded land and strengthening ecosystem resilience. More than 400 hectares of the 500 hectares planned for radical terraces have already been rehabilitated, while over 2,000 hectares of forests and agroforestry plantations have been established to reduce soil erosion and enhance environmental conservation.

A major milestone was reached in 2024 with the introduction of solar-powered irrigation in Musaza Sector, particularly in Gasarabwayi Cell and Gicuma Village. The intervention was designed to address prolonged dry spells that had weakened agricultural productivity and increased the vulnerability of farming households.

Initially developed to serve 20 hectares, the irrigation scheme has since expanded to cover 120 hectares, driven by strong demand from local communities and continued support from REMA, Kirehe District, GEF, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

LDCF 3 Project Coordinator, Sindayigaya Charles, highlighted the importance of ensuring community ownership to sustain the gains achieved through the project.

“This project has played a critical role in building climate resilience and improving livelihoods. Residents need to preserve and maintain the infrastructure they have received to ensure sustainability after the project ends,” he said.

Kirehe District Mayor Bruno Rangira noted that the introduction of solar-powered irrigation has already yielded impressive results in agricultural production.

“Alongside improved crop yields, beneficiaries have received small domestic animals to support their livelihoods. Although irrigation currently covers 120 hectares, Musaza Valley stretches across nearly 10,000 hectares. Expanding this initiative would multiply the benefits and support even more farmers,” he explained.

For local farmers, the impact is visible and immediate.

Musabimana Violette, a resident of Musaza, recalls how farming was once limited by unreliable rainfall.

“Before this irrigation system, we cultivated only during Seasons A and B. Today, we farm throughout Seasons A, B, and C because we have access to solar-powered irrigation,” she said.

The improved water supply has significantly increased her productivity. Maize production has risen from two bags per season to five bags, enabling her to renovate her house, build a kitchen, and pay school fees for her children.

After receiving her own irrigation pump, Musabimana is confident that she will continue farming successfully beyond the project's lifespan.

“I am confident I will continue irrigating and sustaining my agricultural activities even after the project ends,” she added.

As implementation continues through 2028 in Kirehe and Gakenke districts, LDCF 3 is demonstrating the transformative potential of climate-smart solutions. By integrating solar-powered irrigation, ecosystem restoration, and livelihood support, the project is helping communities adapt to climate change while creating pathways toward improved incomes, food security, and sustainable development.

For farmers in Musaza, these interventions are more than infrastructure investments; they represent renewed opportunities, resilient livelihoods, and a future built on sustainable agricultural practices.