Western Rwanda: 1,375 Families May Require Food Assistance After Poor Rains

Kigali, December 13, 2025 - Authorities in Rwanda’s Western Province have warned that 1,375 families may require food assistance following insufficient rainfall that severely affected crop production across several districts.

According to the Western Province Administration, prolonged dry spells and extreme heat caused crop failure in some areas, while previously planted fields recorded very low yields.

A province-wide assessment found that more than 1,375 households are at risk due to the poor agricultural season, particularly those whose crops withered under intense heat or failed to germinate due to lack of rain.

Speaking to Rwanda Broadcasting Agency (RBA), Western Province Governor Jean Bosco Ntibitura said the situation does not amount to famine, as vulnerable households have already been identified.

“We cannot say that there is a famine in the Western Province,” Ntibitura said. “The challenge is related to rainfall shortages in some fields. While some families will harvest normally, others will have low yields and may need food assistance.”

The crops most affected include beans, soybeans, sorghum, and parts of the maize crop.

“A total of 1,375 families across the province may face food shortages,” the governor explained. “While some households will be harvesting, others planted but will produce very little.”

In Rutsiro District, 57 families in Murunda and Mushubati sectors are likely to require assistance if current conditions persist.

In Rusizi District, authorities identified 837 families in Nkombo and Nkanka sectors who may need support due to overcrowding and reduced harvests.

Nyamasheke District remains among the hardest hit, with 481 families expected to need assistance. In Nyabitekeri Sector alone, 337 households were affected by scorching heat that destroyed crops, although areas that received sufficient rainfall recorded better yields.

In Karongi District, some crops initially showed signs of stunted growth but later improved after rainfall resumed.

The Western Province Administration emphasized that households that successfully planted earlier in the season are now entering the harvesting period, reducing the overall risk of widespread food insecurity.