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Rwanda Maps Agricultural Land to Protect Farmland Amid Urban Development in Kigali
Rwanda's government has initiated mapping of agricultural land using satellite imagery to prevent development encroachment in the densely populated country. The Kigali master plan allocates 22 percent of land to agriculture, while urban innovations like vertical farms address shrinking farmland. These efforts aim to ensure food security as the population approaches 22 million.
Apr 8, 5:42 PM·2m read1 source
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KIGALI, Rwanda — Rwanda, Africa's most densely populated country, faces challenges in balancing urban development with agricultural needs. The government began mapping agricultural land and forests in September to track encroachments using satellite imagery. This initiative responds to population growth projected to reach 22 million in the coming years.
Eighty-four-year-old Mukarusini Purisikira returned to Rwanda after fleeing to Congo during the 1994 genocide against the Tutsis. She reported that her family's land, previously spanning hills, was taken for construction. She now farms maize and sweet potatoes on a small plot insufficient to fully feed her family.
The government has imposed fines up to $3,000 and jail terms up to six months on developers encroaching on farmlands. Some buildings in Kigali have been demolished as a result. Officials plan to incorporate drones for real-time monitoring.
use data from the Kigali mayor's office indicates that the master plan dedicates 22 percent of land to agriculture.
City authorities note that housing demand drives construction, but projections suggest farming can become more productive on smaller areas. Most food in Kigali comes from other districts where farmland is also decreasing. " — Emma-Claudine Ntirenganya, spokeswoman for the mayor’s office (The Associated Press) Last year, the government printed and displayed maps designating areas for construction and agriculture across districts.
The city requires developers to include green spaces and gardens in building permit designs. It is also establishing a greenhouse on a city building roof.
farms in Kigali use stackable plastic containers to grow vegetables and fruits like strawberries.
Christian Irakoze co-founded Eza Neza, a company that installs these farms, which the Associated Press visited at local homes and a site supplying a grocery store. One such farm grows 600 plants in vertical rows along a 50-meter perimeter wall. Irakoze stated that vertical farms represent a shift from traditional large-scale rural farming to modular systems accessible to individuals.
