Sustainability implications of Rwanda’s Vision 2050 long-term development strategy

Improving livelihoods in Rwanda requires overcoming food insecurity and malnutrition. Vision 2050 is Rwanda’s long-term development strategy, yet little is known about its potential trade-offs for the country’s biodiversity, forest cover, and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Scenario analysis can provide insights into how to achieve such goals more sustainably. Here, we use the Food, Agriculture, Biodiversity, Land-Use, and Energy (FABLE) Calculator, a simple integrated assessment tool, to explore potential sustainability implications by 2050 through two scenarios: (1) Current Trends and (2) Vision 2050. The Vision 2050 pathway incorporates components of the government’s long-term development strategy and associated national agricultural policy targets. It includes greater increases in crop productivity and decreases in post-harvest losses, and shifts to more sustainable diets, compared to the Current Trends pathway. Results show that the Vision 2050 pathway would, relative to Current Trends, lead to a greater decrease in agricultural land area and an increase in non-forested natural land-cover area, with consequent decreases in GHG emissions from agriculture, increases in carbon sequestration, and increases in the share of land that can support biodiversity conservation. Shifts to a healthier diet in the Vision 2050 pathway would only be compatible with national agricultural priorities if these diets favor consumption of foods that underpin sustainable livelihoods in Rwanda, such as beans, cassava, potatoes, sweet potatoes, banana, and corn. We discuss the potential for integrated land-use planning and adoption of agroecological farming practices to help Rwanda achieve food security, livelihood, biodiversity, and climate mitigation goals in tandem

How can diverse national food and land-use priorities be reconciled with global sustainability targets? Lessons from the FABLE initiative

There is an urgent need for countries to transition their national food and land-use systems toward food and nutritional security, climate stability, and environmental integrity. How can countries satisfy their demands while jointly delivering the required transformative change to achieve global sustainability targets? Here, we present a collaborative approach developed with the FABLE—Food, Agriculture, Biodiversity, Land, and Energy—Consortium to reconcile both global and national elements for developing national food and land-use system pathways. This approach includes three key features: (1) global targets, (2) country-driven multi-objective pathways, and (3) multiple iterations of pathway refinement informed by both national and international impacts. This approach strengthens policy coherence and highlights where greater national and international ambition is needed to achieve global goals (e.g., the SDGs). We discuss how this could be used to support future climate and biodiversity negotiations and what further developments would be needed

Proton consumption capacity, ash alkalinity and chemical characterization of travertine from different sources in Rwanda

African Journal of Agriculture ISSN 2375-1134 Vol. 2 (1), pp. 070-075, January, 2015. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.orq © International Scholars JournalsSoil acidification is among the major factors limiting the sustainability of agricultural production systems throughout the world and more specifically in Rwanda. Travertine samples collected from different deposits in Rwanda were examined for their chemical compositions. Calcium oxide (CaO) content, ash alkalinity and protons consumption capacity were determined as potential indicators to predict the efficiency of travertine. The results found revealed that the studied travertine deposits (Rwaza, Mashyuza, Gishyita and Mpenge) in Rwanda had 35 to 71.1 wt% CaO. Magnesium Oxide (MgO) ranged between 3.1 and 12.7 wt%. Travertine had micronutrients CI, Zn, Cu, Mo and Co that can offset deficiency encountered in highly weathered Rwandan acidic soils. In addition, these travertine deposits had higher proton consumption capacity and ash alkalinity as compared to other liming materials. The study revealed positive linear correlations among all the investigated indicators, which could serve as a model for predicting proton consumption capacity and ash alkalinity of any liming material when its pH and CaO content are known. It was recommended that travertine from Rwanda could be used for soil acidity amelioration and a potential zource of micronutrients for agricultural production

Chemical properties of travertine from different sources in Rwanda with regards to their calcium oxide and magnesium oxide contents

Third REFORUM Biennial Meeting 24 - 28 September 2012, Entebbe, UgandaThis study was conducted in the districts of Rusizi, Korongi and Musanze districts, Rwanda in areas where travertine is found. The objective of the study was to characterize the chemical compositions of travertine for use in amending soil acidity for crop production. Thirty two samples of travertine from different deposits at Mashyuza (Rusizi), Gishita (Karongi) and Mpenge and Rwaza (Musanze) were analysed to establish their CaO and MgO contents. Percentages by weight of CaO and MgO in samples were determined using X-ray fluorescence. Results revealed that travertine from Mashyuza and Rwaza has the highest CaO wt% content followed by Gishyita. Mpenge deposits had the lowest content CaO% . There was no significant difference among sites for MgO contin travertine. The tratio of CaO:MgO in Mpenge, Mashyuza and Gishita was within a range required to prevent deficiency of Ca and Mg in acid soils where maize and beans are grown

Chemical properties of travertine from different sources in Rwanda with regards to their calcium oxide and magnesium oxide contents

Third REFORUM Biennial Meeting 24 - 28 September 2012, Entebbe, UgandaThis study was conducted in the districts of Rusizi, Korongi and Musanze districts, Rwanda in areas where travertine is found. The objective of the study was to characterize the chemical compositions of travertine for use in amending soil acidity for crop production. Thirty two samples of travertine from different deposits at Mashyuza (Rusizi), Gishita (Karongi) and Mpenge and Rwaza (Musanze) were analysed to establish their CaO and MgO contents. Percentages by weight of CaO and MgO in samples were determined using X-ray fluorescence. Results revealed that travertine from Mashyuza and Rwaza has the highest CaO wt% content followed by Gishyita. Mpenge deposits had the lowest content CaO% . There was no significant difference among sites for MgO contin travertine. The tratio of CaO:MgO in Mpenge, Mashyuza and Gishita was within a range required to prevent deficiency of Ca and Mg in acid soils where maize and beans are grown

Chemical properties of soils treated with biological sludge from gelatin industry

The impact of agro-industrial organic wastes in the environment can be reduced when used in agriculture. From the standpoint of soil fertility, residue applications can increase the organic matter content and provide nutrients for plants. This study evaluated the effect of biological sludge from gelatin industry on the chemical properties of two Ultisols (loamy sand and sandy clay) and an Oxisol (clay). The experiment lasted 120 days and was carried out in laboratory in a completely randomized design with factorial arrangement, combining the three soils and six biological sludge rates (0, 100, 200, 300, 400, and 500 m³ ha-1), with three replications. Biological sludge rates of up to 500 m³ ha-1 decreased soil acidity and increased the effective cation exchange capacity (CEC) and N, Ca, Mg, and P availability, without exceeding the tolerance limit for Na. The increase in exchangeable base content, greater than the effective CEC, indicates that the major part of cations added by the sludge remains in solution and can be lost by leaching