Evode’s Journey in Sustainable Agriculture
Farming has always been Evode Muhawenimana’s way of life, but it often felt like a losing battle. No matter how carefully he planted or how hard he worked the soil, the results were painfully familiar, yielding only a 100 kilograms of beans from a 50-are farm. That modest pile represented months of backbreaking effort, and yet it could barely see his family through the season. There was not much left to sell, no significant savings to make improvements, and no cushion for the next year. The dream of thriving through farming seemed out of reach; replaced instead by the constant calculation of how to make little stretch far.
In the rural parts of Rwanda, farming is more than an occupation; it’s a means of survival. But without access to modern farming techniques, many smallholder farmers remain trapped in a cycle of low yields and poverty. Evode was one of them. His neighbours often saw his field and assumed it would never produce much. Some even wondered why he bothered to farm at all.
Everything began to change when he joined a program championing sustainable agriculture in Rwanda. Led by a agronomist, this Walisha program taught farmers to grow climbing beans, a high-yield variety better suited to the land and climate. Evode received Urunyumba variety seeds and learned practical, results-driven methods; planting in rows, reducing seeds per hole, and spacing them precisely 20 cm apart.
The improvement was undeniable. From just 16 kilograms of seed, Evode harvested an astonishing 950 kilograms of beans. For the first time in his life, his farm produced more than enough. He sold part of the harvest and was able to buy a calf, pay his children’s school fees in full, and renovate his home; replacing his old roof with sturdy aluminium sheets. His farm, once a source of uncertainty, became a place of abundance and provision.
News of his success spread quickly. Neighbours who once doubted him now stop by to ask questions, wanting to know how he achieved such results and how they too might access the same kind of support. Their curiosity reflects a wider truth: change in one farm can inspire hope across a whole community.
For Evode, the journey is far from over. He’s determined to keep planting and believes that with more training and resources, his farm could produce even double of the increase in yield he has seen, in the near future. His renewed confidence in his efforts is a reminder that when you plant a seed of opportunity, the harvest goes far beyond the field.
Across Rwanda, there are thousands of farmers like Evode, ready to embrace better farming methods and achieve lasting impact. But they need the right tools, training, and encouragement to get there. You can be the one to make that happen.
Adopt a farmer today and give them the chance to transform their lives, just like Evode Muhawenimana, who went from struggling to feed his family to harvesting nearly a ton of beans and building a secure future.
Donate a one-time gift of $99 or set a recurring $9.95/month donation to empower farmers in Rwanda and help grow a future where no field is left barren. Make it happen here