Rice farmers in the Cyunuzi marshland and fish farmers in the Cyunuzi dam, located in Mushikiri Sector, say they are facing challenges because the water control device (vane) has broken down, preventing proper water flow. This has affected production: farmers are not getting enough water on time, while fish farmers are losing stock either to death or escape whenever there is flooding.
Nsengiyumva Flugence, president of the cooperative that raises fish in the dam, explained that the vane used to allow them to open or close the water, but since it broke, they have been incurring major losses:
“Now we face many problems, including losing our fish, sometimes lacking the water we need, or at other times having too much when we don’t need it. This causes us losses because fish production has dropped significantly.”
On the farmers’ side, the problem is also severe because water is no longer properly channeled. Bikorimana Colonielle, from Mushikiri Sector, said that when it rains, the excess water destroys crops:
“Since this dam stopped working, the water finds its own path and damages our crops. When floods come, the fish die or escape and flow away.”
Muvunyi Primien, head of the Dukorere Hamwe Nyamugari association that uses Cyunuzi dam water for irrigation, emphasized that the broken gates have led to water accumulating with debris, making it unusable:
“When flooding happens, we cannot open the gates to let the debris out. When farmers need water, we cannot supply it to them, and when they don’t need it, we cannot stop it. This is a serious problem that we request to be solved urgently.”
On the side of local authorities, Kirehe District Mayor, Rangira Bruno, acknowledged the issue, saying they are working with RAB (Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Board) to find a solution:
“There is a problem with the gates that regulate water entering the fields, and they stopped functioning. Technicians from RAB are working with the district to decide how to fix it. It may require equipment to go underwater, about seven meters deep, or partially draining the dam. We are confident it will be fixed properly so that farming activities continue smoothly.”
Kirehe District has prioritized agriculture that relies on irrigation, and residents say fixing the Cyunuzi dam quickly is crucial to prevent further losses and ensure irrigation-based production continues to grow.
