Rugamura Marsh

Rugamura Marsh (Marais de Rugamura; -2.53°N, 30.121°W) is a marsh in Kirundo Province, Burundi. It is used for cultivation of rice and sorghum.

Location
Rugamura Marsh is in the north of the Kirundo Commune. It joins the main southern branches of Lake Cohoha. It is northeast of Rutare and the Kirundo Airport. The Köppen climate classification is Aw: Tropical savanna, wet.

Development
The Giriteka cooperative has 82 members, of whom 45 are women. The Confederation of Agricultural Producers' Associations for Development (Confédération des Associations des Producteurs Agricoles pour le Développement: CAPAD) had trained the members in composting and sowing beans, corn and rice in rows in Rugamura Marsh.

During 2013-2016 the Burundian government, with funding from the African Development Bank, launched the Bugesera Rural Infrastructure Support Project (PAIRB). This included hydro-agricultural development of 72.5 ha of the Rugamura Marsh, 232 ha of the Kabuyenge Marsh and 538.5 ha of the Nyavyamo Marsh. It included building drainage outlets, irrigation networks, dykes, access trails, spillways and other infrastructure.

In August 2021 the governor of Kurundo Province, Albert Hatungimana, visited Rugamura Marsh where he launched dry season rice-growing activities. He has said that irrigation is the only way to make the province once again the breadbasket of Burundi. As of 2023 the marsh produced 1.6 tonnes of rice per hectare. The maximum that could be achieved was 5 to 6 tonnes per hectare. Sorghum was also grown in the marsh.