A climate-smart agriculture cross-border project that aims to equip farmers with tools and knowledge towards resilience and productivity while protecting the environment is in the offing in the Virunga Massif – a chain of eight volcanic mountains that straddle Rwanda, Uganda and the DR Congo.
Under the project, which is coordinated by Rwanda-based Red Rocks Initiatives for Sustainable Development in collaboration with Uganda’s Nature Guardian, two workshops are being organised; one in Musanze, northern Rwanda, and another in Kisoro, southwestern Uganda.
The project – funded by Danida Fellowship Centre and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark – will also include interactive field visits, where participants will share their experiences, develop individual action plans, and set realistic goals for implementing the knowledge gained.
Themed “Strengthening Climate Resilient Agriculture Through Cross-Border Collaboration between Uganda and Rwanda”, the first workshop will be held tomorrow, Friday July 19 at the Red Rocks Cultural Centre in Nyakinama, Musanze district, while the Kisoro edition will be held on July 23, 2024.
According to Mr. Gilbert Mwijuke, co-founder of Nature Guardian – a climate change-focused news outlet that operates out of Kampala – this landmark event will bring together farmers, agricultural experts, and stakeholders from across the region to promote sustainable farming practices in response to climate change.
“The workshops will feature a comprehensive agenda designed to enhance the knowledge and skills of participants in implementing Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA). The event is structured into multiple sessions, each focusing on critical aspects of CSA, including sustainable productivity, resilience to climate change, and greenhouse gas mitigation,” Mr. Mwijuke said.
The key highlights of this cross-border project include understanding climate-smart agriculture, climate-smart practices for farming communities in the Virunga Massif, sustainable farming techniques and post-harvest management, as well as market access, among others.
According to Mr. Greg Bakunzi, co-founder of Red Rocks Initiative for Sustainable Development – a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting environmental conservation, cultural preservation, and sustainable development in Rwanda – the project is geared towards enhancing individual knowledge in smart-climate agriculture and its numerous benefits.
“Climate change poses significant challenges to our agricultural communities. By promoting climate-smart agriculture, we empower farmers with the tools and knowledge to enhance their resilience and productivity while safeguarding our environment,” Bakunzi said.
During the event, participants from various groups in the target communities will exchange ideas and best practices, engage in a feedback session that’s meant to foster continuous improvement and support for future initiatives.
“The Red Rocks Initiative for Sustainable Development, along with Nature Guardian – with the support of Danida Fellowship Centre and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark – remain committed to supporting sustainable agricultural practices that benefit both the environment and local communities,” a joint communique issued by the partnering entities reads in part.
The Danida Fellowship Centre administers and implements capacity development activities for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, supporting sustainable development through education and research initiatives worldwide.