On Tuesday, Rwanda’s Minister of Environment Dr. Jean D’Arc Mujawamariya officiated the launch of the Development of Agroforestry for Sustainable Agriculture in Rwanda – a 5-year project set to be implemented in Southern Province and Gakenke District.
The Ministry says the project is worth $18 million (approximately Rwf23 billion) and will run from 2024 to 2028.
The project is a joint venture between the Ministries of Environment and Agriculture and will be funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB).
According to officials at the Ministry of Environment, the project’s specific objective is to develop agroforestry for sustainable agriculture on 60,000 hectares of land.
The project will be funded through a grant from the African Development Bank. The project is expected to employ community members, cooperatives, civil society and the private sector to promote the use of soil-improving tree species.
During the implementation of this project, according to officials at the Ministry of Environment, the planting of Agroforestry species will include, among others, fodder trees, which will eventually sequester around 540,000 tons of CO₂e annually at an average of 9 tCO2e/ha/year for the target total area of 60,000 hectares.
This project will also considerably impact poverty alleviation through increased crop yields (fertile and stabilized soils) and improved livestock productivity (fodder trees) for small-scale producers.
According to the Ministry of Environment, the principal objectives of this project include enhancing climate-resilient development and livelihoods in the country through the restoration and stabilization of landscapes with Agroforestry systems to support sustainable agriculture and green growth.
Recently, Rwanda was announced as the host of the 6th World Congress on Agroforestry in 2025. The announcement was made during the 5th World Congress on Agroforestry that took place in Quebec, Canada.
The 6th World Congress on Agroforestry in Kigali in 2025 will bring together more than 1,500 delegates including researchers, academia, development partners, and private and public sector to advance agroforestry.
The World Congress on Agroforestry will raise the profile of agroforestry and increase support, engagement and investment. It will create a legacy in terms of partnerships, investments and impact and produce a global agroforestry roadmap.
