Development of a gender-sensitive (agro)forestry and agriculture extension centre at the National University of Rwanda

Sector

Agriculture

Project budget

The maximum budget for this project is € 500,000.

Organisations

This project has been developed by the National University of Rwanda (NUR). The tender for this project expired on 10 June 2011. Nuffic has awarded this tender to MDF Training & Consultancy, which has formed a consortium with Aeres group, the International Centre for development oriented Research in Agriculture and the Fort Cox College of Agriculture and Forestry (South Africa). 

Project description

Under the NPT programme, NUR has developed a Master in Agroforestry and Soil Management and built the capacity of its academic staff. This NICHE project aims to establish a Resource and Extension Centre at NUR, focusing on farmers' expertise, gender, and sustainable soil, water and vegetation management.

The project will specifically seek to:

• develop, equip and run the centre as a cost-effective, agroforestry/forestry/agriculture model farm and resource facility, with a focus on women farmers;
• offer technologically up-to-date, gender-sensitive education and training in agroforestry/forestry/agriculture and related fields, which is responsive to the needs of the professional sector and farmer communities;
• facilitate research-based knowledge generation, dissemination and advocacy, with a focus on gender issues;

With more than 85% of the population deriving its livelihood from farming, agriculture is a key sector in Rwandan economy.

Trees are also crucial for Rwanda. They are used to produce energy and construction material, their leaves are used as fodder, and they have a crucial role in the conservation of other natural resources, especially soil and water.

Once Rwanda was covered with forests. Today, its territory is mostly exploited by agriculture, with the exception of a number of national parks. Largely depleted in the wild, trees have been brought under domestication in agricultural systems.

A new type of agroforestry

The type of agroforestry needed today needs to be managed, with crops and trees forming a complementary, mutually supportive, sustainable and income-generating system. Agroforestry must contribute to slowing down erosion, restoring nutrients in highly degraded lands and maintaining the energy balance in a land with a heavy wood deficit.

Towards sustainable land resources management

The central role of women in the management of natural resources must be recognised and emphasised. Policymakers, farmer communities and development partners must rally on matters of sustainable farming and competing land uses and applicants. This is the future for a sustainable management of land resources in Rwanda.