User:Leonidasdusenge

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=Paragraph= Dusengemungu Leonidas is Rwandan.He is born in Muhanga District, on 15 November 1960. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Sociology from the National University of Rwanda (2002).He workerd at ISAR (Institut des Sciences Agronomiques du Rwanda)where he was successively appointed Head of Technology Transfer Unit (2006-2008) and Outreach Program (2010-2011). He got a Master's Degree in Agriculture Extension/Education from Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda (2010).

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His area of research is innovations platforms and gender issues. Now, he is a Socio-economist researcher at Rwanda Agriculture Board in Crop/Research and Extension/Western Zone and based in Karongi District.

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He can be contacted on +250 788617194 or emailed to leonidasdusenge@yahoo.com . =Links to my works=

Achievements, challenges and opportunities for ISAR watersheds sites in Rwanda
 * 1) [http:www.minagri.gov.rw.ministry of Agriculture]
 * 2) [http:www.rab.gov.rw.rwanda agriculture board]

L. Dusengemungu, J. Tuyisenge, J. Mugabo, J. Mutware, J. Nsabimana,  C. Nyirahorana and J. Mukayiranga.

1 Institut des Sciences Agronomiques du Rwanda (ISAR)* Corresponding Author (Email:leonidasdusenge @yahoo.com; tel.: +250788617194)

Abstract:

Natural resource degradation is the major constraint in Rwanda. Poor management of cultivated hillsides has led to serious erosion, siltation of cultivated marshlands and pollution of water bodies. To solve these problems, ISAR used IWM approach. Adoption of this approach is in line with Rwanda government efforts to mitigate further degradation of natural resources, as highlighted by the National Agricultural Research Strategy. This approach operates at village level and puts the community with its stakeholders in the centre while conserving natural resource base and improving agricultural production. Seven pilot sites were selected in different regions of Rwanda: Gasharu in Gitarama, Sogwe in Huye, Muse-Bivumu in Gikongoro, Cyabayaga and Gakirage in Umutara, Cyunuzi in Kibungo and Karama in Bugesera. To achieve the objectives, approximately 60 ISAR researchers have been trained in the IWM approach through trainings organized by ISAR. A participatory diagnosis of the diverse NRM constraints was carried out, followed by prioritization of the most important ones. Gathered information was shared back with target communities and other stakeholders; thereby a community action plan (CAP) to address priority issues was developed. The CAP include following activities: introduction of soil erosion control techniques, nurseries for high value fruit and agroforestry trees, provision of improved seeds, provision of improved cows and small ruminants for manure production; and promotion of cassava leaves processing for income generation. The participation of all groups in any given watershed is an important part of the approach, ensuring effective targeting of management options and minimizing conflicts that might arise from NRM by different interest groups. Political support for the IWM approach is high but financial support is little from ISAR and MINAGRI services.

The approach has facilitated the articulation of increased demands by farmers for technologies and technical support from researchers and extension workers. A book summarizing findings of the initial diagnostic survey has been published. Another book on implementation of different action plans is in pipeline. Despite these achievements however, many challenges were faced during the implementation process: high instability of staff (most of them go for further studies), limited number of researchers with skills in integrated approaches, the organizational structure of ISAR itself largely based on research programs with little interactions and limited numbers of social scientists able to lead the social components of the approach. Furthermore, farmers and local partners failed to own the implementation plan and they still think that it is ISAR business. In general, multidisciplinary teams of researchers do not cooperate as much as possible. The seven watershed sites are at different stages of their implementation plans. Half of them have completed all stages and continue to develop projects. Some opportunities are offered to make progress: Rwanda has got many villages which form potential watersheds sites, farmers and local leaders are interested in the approach and demand-driven technology has become possible while ISAR has lots of technologies to be transferred. Given all these opportunities, it is suggested to scale up the approach in Rwanda and other African countries.

Key words: IWM approach, community action plan, watershed site, technology transfer.