**4.2 Soil protection and land husbandry**

Analysis of rainfall trends shows that the rainy seasons are becoming shorter with high intensity rains which lead to decrease in agricultural production. Moreover, MINAGRI [22] notes that 90% of agriculture land is on slopes. In this regard, the putting in place of effective land management structures is of a great importance to improving productivity. Thus the government of Rwanda has introduced a number of measures which comprise radical terraces accompanied with soil fertility management and soil erosion control. For farmlands on gentle slopes, progressive terracing and agroforestry have proven success in reducing soil erosion.

NISR [14] highlights that an average of 67% of agricultural households in Rwanda is engaged in land conservation practices. These practices include terracing and agroforestry that minimize soil erosion and promote water conservation. According to Gasheja and Gatabazi [24], PSTA I and PSTA II programmes were largely successful in terms of progressive and radical terraces, accompanied by soil fertility management and soil erosion control.

#### **4.3 Irrigation and water management**

Around 22% of agricultural households have land under the land consolidation programme and 9% of them have a part of their land irrigated [14]. Irrigation was identified as a key strategic activity in PSTA II in concordance with the commitment of Rwanda under CAADP compact which establishes Land and Water management in its pillar I. Researches show that irrigation is important in increasing agricultural productivity by allowing multiple cropping, and reducing vulnerability to weather shocks. By signing the CAADP, the government of Rwanda promised to allocate 2% of public funds for irrigation development.

In fact, irrigation allows farmers to move from rain-fed agriculture to diversified high value crops, thus increased cropping intensity and land productivity as well as resilience to climate change [22].

### **4.4 Input in farming**

The provision of farming inputs has also contributed to increased crop productivity in a number of areas in Rwanda. Since 2007, there has been an increase in fertilizer use. Gasheja and Gatemberezi [24], reveal that the application of fertilizers in crop intensification programme areas has reached an annual average of 29 kg/ ha/year in 2011–2012 compared to a national average of 4.2 kg/ha/year from 1998 to 2005 which increased crops yields. For example, maize yields increased from 0.65 MT/ha in 2000 to 2.5 MT/ha in 2010 while wheat yields increased by 2.5 times during the same period.

### **4.5 Improved seeds**

As noted by Huggins [25], the efforts exist to make the agriculture in Rwanda more climate-smart. MINAGRI [26] observes that availability, accessibility and optimal quality seeds enhance crop yields and their subsequent contribution to food security, balanced nutrition, value of the product in the market, and economic growth. In the line with CIP policy, farmers, where it is applicable for now, must use improved seeds for selected crop to increase the production to ensure food security and to increase incomes [27].

*Droughts and Floodings Implications in Agriculture Sector in Rwanda: Consequences of Global... DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.98922*

### **4.6 Agricultural mechanization**

Agricultural mechanization is for efficiency and expending production scope. In Rwanda, mechanization of the agriculture sector consists of different forms of machinery which performs different farm operation: land development and land preparation, planting, crop treatment, harvesting, post-harvesting and agro-processing.

Mechanization of agriculture has many benefits. Gasheja and Gatemberezi [24], argue that mechanization contributes to improving productivity of cultivated land and facilitates expansion of cropping areas, thus improving overall food security. MINAGRI [22] emphasized that agricultural mechanization is among the key technological pillar to boost the yield and production by minimizing the harvest and post-harvest losses while saving human and capital investment farm operation.

MINAGRI has facilitated the ownership of farm machinery to interested farmers, through a lease agreement with them. Actually, MINAGRI, in partnership with private service providers, provides the necessary equipment, tools and training with the aim of accelerating the mechanization of agriculture.

#### **4.7 National post-harvest staple crop strategy**

The National Adaptation Programme of Action and the National Strategy of Rwanda on Climate Change and Low Carbon Development highlight improved post-harvest management as a key climate change adaptation priority.

In Rwanda, climate change is causing floods and droughts, increasing the incidence of thunderstorms and associated high winds. It is also changing traditionally dry seasons, increasing the incidence of rainfall in the midst of higher temperature. These changes affect existing rural infrastructure and pose a threat to traditional practices in harvest storage [28]. Besides, the success of the Crop Intensification Program, launched in 2007 with the objective of increasing productivity in selected food crops while improving food security and self-sufficiency, increases in crop yields resulted in unanticipated surpluses in key staple grains and cereals [29]. In handling the problem of crop yield loss, under MINAGRI, the government initiated the National Post-Harvest Staple Crop Strategy in 2011 with the goal of assisting and strengthening farmers with the harvesting, post-harvest handling, storage, trade and marketing within staple crop value chains in Rwanda in the effort to reduce post-harvest losses. The fundamental vision of this strategy is to reduce food insecurity through an efficient post-harvest private sector system delivering staple food to the people of Rwanda [29]. This framework has been guided by Vision 2020 of the Government of Rwanda, EDPRS and PSTA.

### **5. Conclusion**

Climate change is a reality. It has much more impacts in regions where vulnerability is high. That is why countries, regions and even at international level, concerned stakeholders must look on how to reduce vulnerabilities. Based on literature this study noted that achievement is seen in land management using soil erosion mitigation strategies such as terracing and irrigation schemes. The land consolidation model has been key to raising production.

The government of Rwanda developed and is implementing numerous strategies and programmes across the country. Since 1992, the country started to ratify and sign international and regional treaties and protocols which it domesticated
