The blockage of Kiboga River will see a decline in rice harvests to be suffered by farmers of Mugonero, Mahembe sector, Nyamasheke district, Western Province since the irrigation canal can no longer flow to and supply water for irrigating the 50 ha farmland.
Production, farmers say, has been on a gradual decline since China Load, a Chinese company, rebuilt the bridge of on Kiboga River, blocking water from flowing through the canal feeding rice plantations.
“Before the bridge reconstruction we had a good irrigation system that supported rice production but has since been obliterated, negatively impacting production,” explains Akingeneye Jeanne, one of the farmers.
Another farmer Naho Felecité Nikuze has expressed worries over the declining production due to canal blockage since rain-fed farming cannot flourish well around Mugonero swamp.
“I used to harvest 100 sacks of processed rice before, which has since declined to only 50 sacks. It is disappointing,” she worriedly explained.
The western region representative from Rwanda Agriculture Board (RAB), Nuwumugeni Jeanine has promised to look into the issue and it with utmost urgency.
“In collaboration with district leadership and Chinese road construction company, China Load, we have agreed on revision of the construction,” she promised.
She added that a group of engineering professionals ion from RAB will assist the company to reconstruct the bridge in a way that doesn’t interfere with the irrigation system.
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