The second term of the 2021 academic year at the Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture (RICA) was completed last week. This marked the end of first-year classes for the first cohort of students at RICA; an academic year which stretched over 19 months due to COVID delays.
Richard Ferguson
RICA students take the final exam for the Practical Farming course. April 23, 2021.Racheal describes results from her Farming Unit’s poster to Practical Farming faculty and students. April 27, 2021.Students listen as Emeline explains results from her team’s efforts during the Practical Farming poster session. April 27, 2021.Dr. Nyemba explains his evaluation of a Farming Unit team’s poster during the Practical Farming poster session. April 27, 2021.RICA’s Extension Center under construction. This building will house an open-air/covered venue seating up to 300 people for workshops, conferences and classes. It also will house a classroom, the biology teaching lab, the analytical and diagnostic lab, and faculty/staff offices. March 29, 2021.The small teaching center pivot irrigation system on RICA’s campus being erected. This system covers about 1.5 ha of cropland, and will be used to teach irrigation management and demonstrate conservation ag practices in the middle of campus. Ifundi and Indonzi Halls are in the background. March 29, 2021.RICA’s Campus Center under construction. This building will house administrative and staff offices, the cafeteria, the student learning center and the health center. March 29, 2021.Habanero peppers harvested in the RICA Vegetable and Fruit Enterprise. March 29, 2021.RICA students working during the term break to remove weeds from the landscape. The Campus Center, under construction, is in the background on the other side of the campus bubble fence. April 30, 2021.RICA students cleaning tools during the term break. April 30, 2021.A Ring-Necked Dove on a Candelabra Tree. Two buildings on the RICA campus are named after these which are indigenous to the campus: Muduha Hall (Candelabra Tree), and Inuma Hall (Ring-Necked Dove). April 24, 2021. Adult and young Eastern Grey Plaintain-Eaters. Members of the Turaco family, but not as colorful as Turaco’s I’ve shared photos of previously. April 24, 2021.An adult Eastern Grey Plaintain-Eater in flight. April 24, 2021.Southern Black Flycatcher. February 28, 2021.A pair of Woodland Kingfishers on the RICA First Year Farm pasture fence. February 7, 2021.
Once again I loved seeing the birds! And it looks like the campus is growing rapidly. Well done! I’m looking forward to the drone movie that shows the campus layout…..:-) Thank you for all you do at this campus and especially for sharing it with us. Will that pile of peppers be sold and if so, who gets the money?
KilimbiViews 
Hummm, I didn’t know Maduha meant Candelabra Tree! I learn something every day! (It is like a GIANT succulent!)
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Once again I loved seeing the birds! And it looks like the campus is growing rapidly. Well done! I’m looking forward to the drone movie that shows the campus layout…..:-) Thank you for all you do at this campus and especially for sharing it with us. Will that pile of peppers be sold and if so, who gets the money?
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The peppers are grown under contract for a company that exports them. Income from produce sales goes into an account to offset production costs.
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