“ Our participation in Imihigo made our voices heard, for example we have now managed to multiply seven types of animal feeding glasses which led to the increase of our production and growth of the market.” said members of cooperatives during the peer learning visit held on 14th May 2019 at Rwinkwavu Marshland.
The visit which brought together representatives from the World Bank, Ministry of Agriculture, Rwanda Governance Board, TI-Rw, Imbaraga Organization, S.D.A, IRIBA, Pax Press, farmers grouped in Indatwa Cooperative that exploit the marshland, and others.
Rwinkwavu Marshland is of 1,300 which is exploited by farmers grouped in Indatwa Cooperative. They mainly cultivate rice at about 700ha, beans, fruits such as water melon maize and soybeans. 200 members of cooperatives present in the visit commended the TI Project, the Global Partnership for Social Accountability (GPSA) funded project entitled “Empowering Farmers at District Level through Social Accountability to Improve District Performance Contracts, ’’Imihigo"
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They also expressed their gratitude to the district for helping them in eradication of different crop diseases, marshland development and organization of water usage by resolving the issues related to irrigation and availing fertilizers to farmers.The event was funded by Social Accountability Media Initiative in line with GPSA project.
TI-Rw is empowering farmers’ participation in Imihigo through putting in place channels for farmers to collaborate with local authorities in discussing the challenges faced and according to farmers, now their voices are being and their opinions, suggestions are being noted and taken into consideration in the whole process of Imihigo : planning, implementation and evaluation phases.
During the same event, the farmers renewed their commitment in working together with local leaders and look for sustainable solutions as well as continue working together in the improvement in ‘Imihigo”.
Farmers have also asked for advocacy on how to access raised loans from SACCO so that they can invest more in agriculture and livestock. They also added that they would like to learn on how to conserve stock feeding glasses to be used in sunny period.