Rwanda Development Organisation (RDO) as one of the implementers of the Hinga Weze project met on Friday, December 27th 2019 with all staff including administrators, field staff and agronomists to review progress and unveil the year 3 work plan of the project. The project in its third year is undertaking a mid-term review to see progress made and make appropriate changes.
Eugene Rwibasira, the Executive Secretary of RDO told the meeting that this is a year of reflection in the project’s five year journey. The project which is scheduled to run until 2022 has targets to support about 200,000 smallholder households in ten districts. Rwibasira underlined that, RDO’s involvement in the implementation of project is going to be more direct and will continue to implement Hinga Weze beyond the five year project life span. The project promotes sustainable intensification of smallholder farming systems and climate-smart agricultural production. The five-year target is to support 200,000 smallholder households to have achieved 50 per cent increases in productivity of nutrient-rich crops and 50 per cent reduction of post-harvest losses, contributing to 20 per cent increases in sales and incomes and 40 per cent increases in the percentage of women and children consuming diverse and acceptable diets. Rwibasira observed that HingaWeze aligns with the government’s strategic plan for the transformation of agriculture which emphasizes increased use of inputs, irrigation, and mechanization.
RDO implements the project in four districts of the Eastern province; they include Bugesera, Gatsibo, Kayonza and Ngoma. According to Narcisse Ndagijimana from CNFA (Cultivating New Frontiers in Agriculture) the year 3 Hinga Weze there are many changes that are expected and will be doing a mid-term review. He told participants at the meeting that this year presents an opportunity to undertake changes because it may be the only time in the five years of the project to allow particular changes. Running since 2017, the project’s financial year commences in October. Hinga Weze plans to strengthen inclusive, competitive, and nutrition-sensitive value chains; increase incomes and access to market information; and improve the food security and diets of vulnerable households, especially of women of child-bearing age and young children. Interventions in 10 diverse districts in Eastern, Western, and Southern provinces will strengthen the capacity of Government of Rwanda, private sector, and civil society representatives and households in five value chains: bean, maize, Irish potato, orange flesh sweet potato (OFSP), and horticulture. Hinga Weze is a USAID supported project that is being implemented by RDO, CNFA –Plan International, HarvestPlus, Souktel, and Imbaraga Farmer Federation in 10 District of Bugesera, Gatsibo, Kayonza, and Ngoma (Eastern Province); Karongi, Ngororero, Nyabihu, Nyamasheke, and Rutsiro (Western Province); and Nyamagabe (Southern Province).
