RWANDA RADICAL TERRACES: Embedded Agriculture sustainability & Agro-tourism

Did you get a chance to Visit Rwanda's beautiful Hilly & mountainous Landscape? If not, i would like to let's you know that

" Rwanda embrace thousand hills, verdant slopes is where the stories of resilience are silently seen. Upon the Rwanda hills & mountains, life's rhythms beat strong, with hope for food & prosperity".

This poetic description of mine, briefly indicate that Rwanda Mountains & hills are no longer only source of Food through Agriculture done on them, but also they are becoming the sources of inspiration that generate sustainable revenue to rural community particularly young people through " Agro-Tourism". However, attracting force to all those ambitions is " the beautiful Terraces established on the horizons of Rwanda Hills and mountains".

Why Radical Terraces?

Since long time ago, Rwanda mountainous nature has not been favorable in terms of Agriculture Production due highest slopes which was triggering massive soils erosion. According to UNDP (2007), erosion in Rwanda leads to Approx~ 15 Millions Tones of soil annually, resulting in a decline in the capability to feed 40,000 Rwandan yearly sustainably. The Rwandan government introduced Radical terraces (In Kinyarwanda: Amatarasi y'Indinganire), an agricultural technology aimed at preserving soil and enhancing farming activities in the highland areas to increase agricultural production and ensure food security.

Ministry of Agriculture & Animal Resources (MINAGRI) together with partners, establish thousands of Hectares of terraces every year ( Example: According MINAGRI Annual report(2022/2023), the total area of land under conservation with radical & progressive terraces are respectively 1,008,855 ha and 138,579 ha of which 22,579 ha of progressive and 3235.7 ha of radical terraces were developed) and this give out the real insight of why the terraces are so important in Rwanda Food System.

Benefit of Terraces In Agriculture and environment

Terracing plays a crucial role in increasing agricultural productivity by mitigating soil erosion, managing water runoff, and maximizing land use efficiency. Here’s why it’s important:

1. Erosion Control: Terracing involves creating level steps or platforms on sloping land. These steps act as barriers to prevent soil erosion caused by water runoff. By reducing erosion, terracing helps to maintain soil fertility and structure, preserving essential nutrients for crops.
2. Water Management: Terraces help in managing water runoff by slowing down its flow and allowing it to infiltrate into the soil. This helps in recharging groundwater, reducing surface runoff, and preventing soil degradation due to excess water. In regions with irregular rainfall patterns or prone to droughts, terracing can help in conserving water for agricultural use.
3. Maximizing Cultivable Land: In hilly or sloping terrain where flat land for agriculture is limited, terracing provides additional cultivable area by creating flat platforms on the slopes. This increases the available land for cultivation, allowing farmers to grow more crops and improve overall productivity.
4. Stability and Accessibility: Terraces provide stability to the land, reducing the risk of landslides and soil erosion during heavy rainfall or other natural events. Additionally, terraced fields are easier to access and work on compared to steep slopes, making agricultural activities such as planting, harvesting, and irrigation more manageable and efficient.
5. Crop Diversification: Terracing allows for the cultivation of a variety of crops on different terraced levels, as each level may have slightly different soil characteristics and microclimates. This promotes crop diversification, which can improve resilience to pests, diseases, and adverse weather conditions, thereby enhancing overall agricultural productivity and sustainability.

Though, today, the Rwanda Hills and Mountain are a symbol of the country's agricultural heritage and also a tangible example of sustainable land use and environmental stewardship, Young people also started seeing them as way through, to promoting Agro-Tourism for the self-reliance. Tangible example is like a passionate Young man who ventured into Agro-tourism in Rwanda under Brand Name of " Ibere rya Bigogwe" [ Check on the picture below]

This example of Ibere rya Bigogwe is an indication that there is a very huge opportunities of Agro-tourism over thousands of beautiful radical terraces established in Rwanda via:

• Economic Diversification: Promoting agro-tourism diversifies Rwanda's economy by creating additional revenue streams beyond agriculture. Agro-tourism can generate income through tourism-related activities such as farm visits, agricultural tours, and farm-stay accommodations.
• Job Creation: Agro-tourism creates employment opportunities for local communities, particularly in rural areas where agriculture is the primary livelihood. It provides jobs in hospitality, tourism services, and cultural experiences, helping to reduce unemployment and poverty.
• Cultural Exchange and Education: Agro-tourism over terraces offers opportunities for cultural exchange and education, allowing visitors to learn about Rwanda's agriculture, traditional farming practices, and cultural heritage. This promotes understanding and appreciation of local customs and traditions.
• Conservation and Environmental Stewardship: Agro-tourism can incentivize environmental conservation and sustainable land management practices. Farmers may adopt eco-friendly farming methods to attract tourists, such as organic farming, agroforestry, or wildlife conservation.

Reference:

1. Murwanashyaka. E (2023). Small Holder's farmers adoption to Radical Terraces and their effect on Food production and security in Nyamagabe district, PhD Thesis, University of Nairobi. Accessed via https://erepository.uonbi.ac.ke/bitstream/handle/11295/164255/Emmanuel%20Murwanashaya-PH.D.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y
2. Uwacu, R.A (2021). Using radical terraces for erosion control and water quality improvement in Rwanda: A case study in Sebeya catchment, Elsevier, Vol,39, 100649, and accessed via https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2211464521000464
3. Rwanda Green Fund (FONERWA) (2024) via https://greenfund.rw/greengicumbi/home
4. https://waterportal.rwb.rw/sites/default/files/inline-files/Brochure%20Radical%20terraces%20in%20Rwanda_0.pdf
5. https://www.ibereryabigogwe.com/