Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture

Mark your calendars! On 12-13 Nov 2026, RICA, @RwandaAgri, in partnership with @mccpeace & @WFP Rwanda, are hosting the 2nd National Symposium on Conservation Agriculture. Stay tuned as we share proven practices, and explore a more sustained action for sustainable food systems.

Next on the agenda is our Plenary Session on the Conservation Agriculture Enabling Environment. Join @HeiferRwandaCD Verena Ruzibuka, @HanningtonNB (Equity Bank Rwanda), @Chan_Ingabire (MINAGRI), and James Gakuru (Radiant Insurance) as they discuss bridging policy and agricultural financing to drive CA adoption and deliver measurable farmer impact.

#CASymposium2026 #ConservationAgriculture

DAY 2 #CASymposium2026 - Today, we are shifting focus to crops performance under CA, RICA's @CheruDuncan and @oneacrefundRW 's Dr Ntirenganya Elie and Elyse Tuyishime are sharing findings on the agronomic performance of selected staple crops and the specific characterization of leguminous cover crops across Rwanda’s Eastern and Northern provinces.

Why do long-term Conservation Agriculture experiments matter to a farmer? Because one good or bad season can't tell you what will work for your farm. Time can.

At the 2nd National Symposium on Conservation Agriculture, Dr. Christian Thierfelder of @CIMMYT shared lessons from more than 20 years of CA research in Southern Africa, and what they mean for smallholder farmers:

(1)  Higher yields: On-farm trials show CA maize yields beating conventional tillage in about 70% of cases, and sometimes doubling them.

(2)  Stability in tough seasons: Drought and El Niño years hit all farmers, but CA plots held up better than conventionally ploughed ones.

(3)  Healthier soil: Long-term data shows improved soil health and more stable production over time.

(4)  Rotation pays: Rotating maize with legumes gave the strongest yield gains, and legumes outperformed non-legume diversification crops.

(5)  Tested with farmers: On-farm trials in villages show what works across different soils, rainfall and farm conditions.

With droughts expected twice every five years, business as usual will not work, said Dr @BusyBeeChris, emphasizing that only decades of evidence help farmers, extension officers and policymakers invest in practices that last.

Live stream: lnkd.in/d4vSsP4v

#CASymposium2026 #ConservationAgriculture #SoilHealth #ClimateSmartAgriculture #SmallholderFarmers #RICA #CIMMYT

#CASymposium2026 - As farmers from across Rwanda share their experiences with the benefits and challenges of conservation agriculture (CA) adoption during the 2nd National Symposium on Conservation Agriculture, it is encouraging to hear their positive testimonies.

Credit goes to different CA stakeholders, including @peace_pdn and @mccpeace, NAICO, SNV, Imbaraga and Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture, for equipping farmers with the skills and knowledge to practice CA. #ConservationAgriculture

Live stream: youtube.com/watch?v=G0kjIo…