Consequences of Poor irrigation system at RWASAVE SWAMP {N?1}

The Rwasave swamp is found approximately 2.5km from Huye town, the second largest town in Rwanda, and it is about 132km south of the capital city of KIGALI.

By English dictionaries, Irrigation is that operation causing water to flow over lands, for nourishing plants and that is true. Rice is within the most crops that grow fast and favorably in a low ground saturated with water, soft, wet ground named swamp. 

Therefore, rice is always planted in wetlands for their favorable growth. As you will see in the pictures below the Rwasave swamp is drying and if nothing done soon the farmers in rwasave will have no harvest this season.

 I am conducting the research on Rwasave wetlands which had a purpose of: 

1. Identifying why the Rwasave swamp is drying this season.
2. What effect will have on the farmers and the district of Huye?
3. What effect is this having on the ecosystem in general?
4. Recommend by suggesting solutions to the district. [HUYE DISTRICT]

My methodology of gathering information:

• Going on the field, discuss with farmers about their problems in cultivating rice.
• Using questionnaires so that I can know level of understanding on irrigation systems of the farmers.

By now my research is not yet finished but some of my goals, have been achieved which is why I would like to share with you some, and be aware and wait the rest in my second report.

• I didn?t know that Rwasave tanks have been broken since last year and in the dry season the swamp did not get saturated with water, but after this time of research I know. 

Here comes another question after knowing that, if there were no tanks there should be no other way to maintain swamp healthy for rice production in Rwasave? That is where I realized that also the farmers have a problem in irrigation systems [reserved for district recommendations].

• The farmers are the first to be affected by this issue, because they not doing some agriculture practice well. Example weeding for them is very difficult due to the toughness of the land and this means they are not expecting enough income; some have started to accept the loss already, [the competition of weeds and rice is very high].

• And of course if nothing done soon by the government of Rwanda to minimize the risks, the district will be more affected too indirectly. The rice productivity of Huye district will be very low in the end.