WESTERN PROVINCE

RUBAVU — The government has promised to provide fertilisers to farmers in Rubavu district in order to boost agricultural production.

This was announced by Evaliste Bizimana, the district vice Mayor in charge of Economic Development while opening a one-day seminar for Sector agronomists recently in Rubavu.

Members of cooperative unions in the area and farmers also attended the seminar meant to discuss the role of fertilisers in increasing crop production and the fulfillment of the government’s efforts towards the Economic Revolution. The meeting was organised by the Ministry of Agriculture in conjunction with the district.

Bizimana said that one of the country’s targets for Vision 2020 was having residents come together to increase agricultural production and get out of poverty. According to the vice mayor, the government will provide the fertilisers to farmers at relatively cheaper prices.

"Businessmen buying fertilisers from the government will get a discount of 25 per cent while farmers in cooperative unions will have a 50 per cent discount. I therefore advise farmers to join cooperatives in order to benefit from the plan,” he said.

Aloys Semakuza, one of the trainers warned farmers against using fertilisers meant for specific crops on other crops.

"Fertilizers meant for Irish Potatoes should be for that not for other crops,” he said. He called upon farmers to work in cooperative unions adding that a combined effort was the only viable solution to tackle food shortages.

Rubavu Irish potatoes, maize and wheat, farmers are to get the fertilisers.

Farmers who attended the meeting asked government to speed up the the distribution of the fertilisers before the beginning of the planting season which starts in September.

Ends