The rhythmic sounds of construction muffle the thud of farmers' hoes on a chilly morning in Kigali, where new efforts aim to protect remaining agricultural land from relentless development in Africa's most densely populated country.
Eighty-four-year-old Mukarusini Purisikira, a farmer who fled during the 1994 genocide, returned to find her family's land taken for construction. She now grows maize and sweet potatoes on a plot the size of a small cottage, barely enough to feed her. Since September, Rwanda's government has been mapping agricultural land and using satellite imagery to track encroachment, with fines up to $3,000 and jail terms of up to six months. Some buildings in Kigali have been torn down, and the government plans to incorporate drones for real-time monitoring.
The Kigali master plan dedicates 22% of land to agriculture. City authorities acknowledge housing demand but say farming can be more productive with innovation. Emma-Claudine Ntirenganya, a spokeswoman for the mayor's office, advocates for urban agriculture and requires developers to include green spaces. Approaches include vertical farms, such as those by Christian Irakoze's company Eza Neza, which grows 600 plants in stackable containers along a 50-metre wall. Agronomist Richard Bucyana trains farmers in hydroponics to maximise productivity on shrinking land.
Irakoze emphasises using local inputs like manure and volcanic sediment to buffer global pressures, while Bucyana urges African governments to pursue self-sustainability. The government last year printed maps showing designated construction and reserved agricultural areas across districts.
