[01] Narcisse Hakizimana, Faculty of Environmental Studies, University of Lay Adventists of Kigali (UNILAK), Kigali, Rwanda. [02] Olive Nishimwe, Faculty of Environmental Studies, University of Lay Adventists of Kigali (UNILAK), Kigali, Rwanda. [03] Lamek Nahayo, Faculty of Environmental Studies, University of Lay Adventists of Kigali (UNILAK), Kigali, Rwanda. [04] Abias Maniragaba, Faculty of Environmental Studies, University of Lay Adventists of Kigali (UNILAK), Kigali, Rwanda.

In Rwanda, about 80% of population works in subsistence agriculture. This study aimed to analyze the extent to which irrigation project contributed to its beneficiaries’ livelihoods in Rwamagana district of Rwanda. A purposive or judgmental sampling strategy selected a sample size of 208 people living around and working with the project. The questionnaire was used to collect data which were analyzed by using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) along with Microsoft Excel. The results indicated that 71.6 percent of respondents were male and 70.2 percent were aged between 16 and 30 years old. It was noted that 95.7% of project beneficiaries were single individuals not members of cooperatives growing rice in the irrigation sites under construction. For livelihoods improvement, it was noted that some of informants bought land (16.8%), livestock (39.9%), houses (1.9%), and bicycles (11.1%). The informants indicated that future project management to sustainably contribute to community livelihoods, should base on the protection of irrigation structures (75%), and efficiency use of irrigation water (25%). The analysis suggests government and stakeholders to ensure that local farmers affected by the project are given priority during employment process. This would help them to cover the loss from stopping their agricultural activities where irrigation project is taking place. In addition, delivering training to rice farmer’s cooperative about dam maintenance and protection of concrete irrigation structures would sustainably increase agricultural produce and rural livelihoods improvements as well.

Irrigation Project, Rural Community, Livelihoods, Rwamagana, Rwanda

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