SOUTHERN PROVINCE

HUYE—Intensive cultivation of cassava on over 10,000 hectares of land has commenced in all the eight districts of Southern Province.

The cultivation of the crop has been seen as a sure-fire way to fight against hunger and poverty characteristic of the region and has the backing of most local leaders.

The decision to cultivate cassava on a large scale was reached during a meeting of district leaders and the province governor held in Ruhango district recently.

According to Mayor of Ruhango Francois Byabarumwanzi, the district will cultivate cassava on 3450 hectares of land, the highest in the province.

"The intensive cultivation of cassava requires at least Frw500,000 per hectare. In a period of two years, a farmer will be able harvest and sell cassava stems earning over Frw4million.

The farmer will also be able to harvest close to 15 tonnes of cassava,” the mayor said.

In Huye district, intensive cultivation of cassava will be begin in Rusatira sector.

According to Mayor Aimable Twagiramutara, the sector has enough land to facilitate the growing of cassava on a large scale.

"We strongly believe that the growing pod cassava on a large scale will help in reducing the problem of famine. Farmers will also be able to earn income given that the crop fetches high prices on the market,” said Twagiramutara.

To reduce on the costs of growing of cassava, districts will enlist support from the 16,000 former prisoners who are to engage in community work.

According to the executive secretary of the initiative Evariste Bizimana, sectors will be able to use such people to fill the daily 8-hour work requirement.

"Prisoners on conditional release will be able to engage in activities that benefit the communities they live in. 

For areas with few or without people on community work, we intend to hold camps where former prisoners will meet and do community work together for a given period of time,” said Bizimana.

Along with cassava, the province plans to embark on improving the quality of coffee and tea produced by planting improved varieties of seeds.

Ends