Mutangana was trained in ecological organic agriculture practices through the Rwanda Organic Agriculture Movement(ROAM), a Country Implementing Partner under the KHEA Project implemented within the broader KCOA Africa consortium.
In 2021, his journey expanded further when he joined the STAR Africa Incubator program in Germany. It was here that he deepened his knowledge on biochar production, a climate-smart, soil-enhancing technology made from biomass waste.
What started as training has now become a community-driven solution in his village.
What is Biochar and How is it Made?
Serge Libaho-KHEA Project Officer from ROAM in action, mixing biochar ingredients with a shovel as part of hands-on agroecology and soil health practices.
Biochar is a form of charcoal produced by burning organic waste in a controlled environment with limited oxygen. It is highly valuable in agriculture because it improves soil structure, increases water retention, and enhances nutrient availability.
Mutangana uses simple, locally adapted methods:
1. The Kontiki Pit System
He digs a pit measuring approximately 60 by 100 cm, designed in a way that limits oxygen flow and prevents open flames from spreading uncontrollably. Inside this pit, he places biomass materials such as bean residues.
The materials are carefully burned and managed by slowly adding water to control combustion. As the fire reduces, what remains is clean biochar, ready for soil application.
2. Barrel Pyrolysis Method
In addition to the pit system, Mutangana also uses metal barrels to produce biochar in a more controlled and environmentally friendly way. This system helps reduce smoke emissions and improves efficiency by regulating airflow through small openings.
Turning Biochar into Powerful Organic Fertilizer
Mutangana does not stop at producing biochar. He combines it with compost to create a highly effective organic fertilizer that significantly improves soil fertility.
The mixture is left to stabilize for about 24 hours before application.
This combination enhances microbial activity in the soil and increases nutrient availability for crops.
Real Impact: From 2 kg to 10 kg per Square Meter
To test the effectiveness of his organic fertilizer, Mutangana applied it to zucchini plots under different soil treatments:
- Plot with compost only: ~2 kg yield per square meter
- Plot with biochar + compost: ~10 kg yield per square meter
The results were striking. The biochar-enriched soil produced five times more yield, demonstrating the powerful impact of integrating biochar into organic farming systems.
For farmers in his community, this is not just data, it is proof of transformation.
A Community Vision for Change
Mutangana’s work is not limited to his own farm. His vision is deeply community-centered:
“My vision extends far beyond my success. I aim to support fellow farmers by supplying them with biochar and teaching them how to produce it independently.”
He is actively training farmers, demonstrating production methods, and promoting adoption of ecological farming practices that reduce dependence on chemical fertilizers.
Through his role as a multiplier, he is helping bridge the gap between knowledge and practice in rural farming communities.
Advice to Fellow Farmers and Multipliers
Mutangana emphasizes the importance of applying what is learned during training:
“The training I received played a crucial role in my skill development, and I credit it for my growth.”
His message to other multipliers is simple but powerful: knowledge only creates impact when it is put into action.
Some of the Key Resources
KHSA_NNF_Poster-Series-User-Guide-Making-biochar.pdf
Small Innovations, Big Impact
The story of Mutangana Dieudonne shows how locally available materials, when combined with the right knowledge, can transform agriculture. Biochar is not just a soil amendment, it is a pathway toward sustainable farming, climate resilience, and improved livelihoods.
Through initiatives supported by organizations like the KHEA Project, KCOA Africa, and the Rwanda Organic Agriculture Movement, farmers like Mutangana are proving that regenerative agriculture is not only possible, but already happening.
Disclaimer:
– To learn about the KCOA Project: https://kcoa-africa.org/
– To learn about the KHEA Project: https://khea-africa.org/
– For more details on this article, please reach out to pmagino@biovisionafrica.org
– See the license statement of all KCOA content: https://kcoa-africa.org/license-statement/ , which applies to all content from hubs implementing the KCOA project.
Author: Serge LIBAHO
Agriculturist
