1st May 2023: The Rwanda Water Resources Board (RWB) and its partners started training of Sectoral and District agronomists on the National Program for Soil Erosion Control (NAPROSEC).

The initiative kicked off on April 27, 2023 with 13 agronomists from Rutsiro, 11 from Rubavu , 12 from Nyabihu, and 13 from Ngororero Districts in Western Province, 21 from Gicumbi, and 14 Nyagatare Districts in Eastern Province.

All participating agronomists received training on the new soil erosion-related manual, which was curated as a guidance for establishing erosion trenches.

Moreover, it provided an opportunity to explore the use of a new Soil Erosion Mapping Application that was developed in partnership with the Rwanda Space Agency (RSA). It will enable the Agronomists to monitor and report on the status of soil erosion using their phones.

“We will work hand-in-hand with citizens to ensure that trenches on their farms are properly constructed.”

“We are now pleased with the new technological approach, as it will help us deliver reports based on actual data. In reality, it will support us to pinpoint the areas that require soil erosion solutions,” said Josephine Dusabeyezu, an agronomist from Rukomo Sector, Gicumbi District.

See photos: Training in Western Province & training in Eastern Province.

WHAT IS NAPROSEC?

The Government of Rwanda embarked on accelerating the soil erosion control with the national initiative dubbed ‘National Program for Soil Erosion Control (NAPROSEC).

This program is led by the Ministry of Local Government (MINALOC) and jointly implemented by other government institutions such as the Rwanda Water Resources Board (RWB), the Ministry of Environment (MoE), the Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA), the Rwanda Forestry Authority(RFA), the Rwanda Meteorology Agency (METEO Rwanda), the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI), the Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB), the Ministry of Emergency Management (MINEMA), the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MINECOFIN), among others.

Currently, soil erosion has been observed on over 663,891 hectares across the country.

Hence, the program objectives include increasing awareness of the soil erosion problem in the country and instigating citizen ownership in soil erosion control activities; promoting extensive quick-win actions in erosion control for landowners to prevent soil erosion, landslide, and other erosion-related disasters; increasing soil productivity; and setting up and strengthening collective actions of soil erosion task force teams at all local and national levels.

Despite efforts made in landscape restoration initiatives as well as water bodies’ protection, Rwanda is still affected by soil erosion issues in different parts which result in the loss of citizens’ lives, damage of public and private infrastructures, and pollution of rivers, among others.