NORTHERN PROVINCE

GICUMBI— The Minister of Local Government, Protais Musoni has advised residents of Rubaya sector, Gicumbi district to carry out modern farming in order to ensure food security.

He made the call last week during an evaluation of area development projects.

Accompanied by the visiting head of European Commission for Rwanda, Ambassador David Mac Rae, and the Governor of Northern Province Boniface Rucagu, the minister inspected 100 hectares of terraces on which Irish potatoes are grown in Rubaya sector.

The project was funded by European Union (EU)  in conjunction with the Common Development Fund (CDF).
Addressing  local residents, Musoni advised them to adopt terracing on exemplary hills locally refereed to as ‘agasozi ndatwa’ to ensure increased food production.

He also asked residents to register for health insurance to enable them access cheap medication and put up nursery schools in every village for their children.

To protect the environment, the minister urged residents to plant more trees in the area. "Government is committed to make Vision 2020 sectors self sustaining economically,” he said.

Commenting on the project, Ambassador Mac Rae said that the Rubaya terracing project was successful because of the cooperation of local residents who completed the work within a short period.

In order to prevent soil erosion, Mac Rae observed that terracing is vital for Rwanda owing to her hilly terrain.
 "We have to act quickly to prevent fertile soils from being washed away,” said Mac Rae.

The delegation also visited Silvere Ziridamu’s exotic cattle and Poultry farming project in Gishari Cell of the same Sector.

Also in attendance were MP Jean Marie Vianney Gatabazi, the district Mayor Bonane Nyangezi, Director of CDF Laetitia Nkunda, RDF Second Division commander Brig. Gen. Alex Kagame and Gicumbi district Police Commander Superintendent Albert Ndatsikira among others.

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