Rwanda Moves to Protect Farmland

In Kigali, the clash between construction and cultivation is intensifying. Farmers like Mukarusini Kurisikira, who lost much of her land to development after returning from exile, now grow maize and sweet potatoes on tiny plots overshadowed by high-rise buildings.

Since September, Rwanda’s government has begun mapping farmland with satellites and plans to use drones to stop encroachment in Africa’s most densely populated nation. Developers face fines of up to $3,000 and jail terms if they build on protected land. Some buildings have already been torn down.

Kigali’s master plan reserves 22% of land for agriculture, and officials are promoting urban farming innovations — from rooftop greenhouses to vertical farms and hydroponics. Local entrepreneurs like Christian Irakoze of Eza Neza are scaling vertical farms that grow hundreds of plants in compact spaces, while agronomists train farmers to adopt soil-free methods.

Officials say these approaches are vital as Rwanda’s population heads toward 22 million and global shocks, including fertilizer price spikes linked to the Iran war, threaten food supplies. “African governments should start thinking how they can be self-sustainable,” agronomist Richard Bucyana said.

Source: Newstimehub