Farmers of the COMSEPOPY cooperative in Nyabihu District are celebrating a remarkable harvest after cultivating potatoes on radical terraces established through the Volcanoes Community Resilience Project (VCRP). 

On just one hectare of terraced land, the cooperative harvested 22 tons of potatoes, a result that underscores the dual benefit of radical terraces: preventing soil erosion on steep slopes while at the same time increasing agricultural productivity. 

Byiringiro Innocent, a member of the cooperative, described the change he has witnessed: “In the past, erosion would wash away much of our soil, and our yields were low. Now, with the radical terraces, the land is stable, and we can harvest more than we ever did before. This gives us hope for better livelihoods.” 

The experience of COMSEPOPY farmers highlights the broader impact of investing in sustainable land management. Terraces not only protect Rwanda’s fragile landscapes from erosion but also strengthen food security and improve  income for farming families, demonstrating how environmental restoration can directly uplift communities. 

So far, In Nyabihu District, 160 hectares of land have been rehabilitated with radical terraces under the Volcanoes Community Resilience Project, with an additional 150 hectares planned at the end of fiscal year 2025-2026.