Cultivating Change: Women Leading Rwanda’s Food Security
As our Learning Tour continued, we left Kigali and traveled into the heart of rural Rwanda, where rolling hills and lush landscapes are home to vibrant communities of small-scale farmers. This region, known for its rich agricultural potential, has also faced challenges related to land degradation and food insecurity. However, through the implementation of effective conservation agriculture methods, farmers here are transforming their fields and their futures.
A Warm Welcome from the Community
Upon arriving in the community, we were greeted with joyful singing, poetry, and celebratory dancing—a heartfelt expression of gratitude for the Grow Hope project and the impact it has had on their lives. The majority of the community members we met were women, subsistence farmers who work tirelessly to provide food for their families. Their enthusiasm and resilience were immediately evident as they shared stories of how conservation agriculture has improved their ability to grow food, nourish their children, and build financial security.
Learning in the Field: Farmer Field Schools
One of the key elements of the food security program here is the Farmer Field School model, led by the Peace and Development Network (PDN). This hands-on approach allows farmers to use their own fields as classrooms, learning and practicing conservation agriculture techniques in real time. These methods, which include minimal soil disturbance, soil cover, and crop rotation, have led to increased soil fertility, better water retention, and higher yields—ensuring that families have enough to eat throughout the year.
Women in the program spoke passionately about how these techniques have reduced the time and labour required to cultivate their crops, allowing them to focus on other aspects of their families’ well-being. With healthier soils and improved yields, they are not only feeding their families but also generating enough surplus to sell at local markets—providing an income that helps send their children to school.
Nourishing Bodies and Minds
Food security isn’t just about growing more food—it’s also about ensuring people get the nutrition they need to thrive. The project includes a strong focus on nutrition education, using a simple yet effective system of four colours—green, white, brown, and orange—to represent different components of a balanced diet. This method makes it easy for families to remember how to prepare nutritious meals using locally available ingredients.
Women from the community demonstrated how to prepare a well-balanced meal using the “One Pot, One Hour” method. This approach allows families to cook nutritious meals quickly and efficiently, ensuring that even those with limited resources can eat well. Mothers shared how they’ve learned to cultivate nutrient-rich vegetables in kitchen gardens and integrate diverse food groups into their meals.
Partnering with Local Government for Sustainable Solutions
A key takeaway from our visit was seeing how partnerships between organizations like PDN and local government authorities strengthen food security initiatives. We had the honor of meeting Jean Marie Rusi, the Vice Mayor of Economic & Development in Ruhango District, where PDN works closely with the district government to support families in need.
Jean Marie Rusi emphasized the importance of collaboration between community-led initiatives and government support to create long-term solutions for hunger and poverty. He expressed gratitude for the work being done through the Grow Hope project, highlighting how conservation agriculture and food security programs are not just helping individual families but are also contributing to broader economic development in the region.
Our team along with local CBM, MCC and PDN staff meeting the Vice Mayor and Ruhango District staff.
As we reflected on our time in this community, we were deeply moved by the resilience, ingenuity, and determination of the farmers we met. Conservation agriculture, nutrition education, and financial empowerment are not just helping families survive—they are equipping them to thrive. Women who once struggled to put food on the table are now growing enough to sell at the market, sending their children to school, and building brighter futures for the next generation.