Over 120 farmers and agro-dealers are on a two-day field tour, where they are expected to learn best practices and new fertilisers application skills from model farmers and retailers. 

According to a statement by IFDC/PReFER project, the organisers of the field tour that started yesterday, the group was expected to visit two demonstration sites in selected districts to share their findings obtained from fertiliser and lime demonstration fields and their experience in crop productivity.

According to David Gisselquist, the IFDC/PReFER chief of party and policy advisor, PReFER has organised about 4,000 fertiliser and lime demonstrations to help farmers fix soil nutrient deficiencies and adjust fertilisers guidelines according to what they see in their fields (through the demonstrations).

"These demonstrations are showing different positive responses of micronutrients, extra macronutrients and lime that could encourage many farmers from different areas to adopt these micronutrients and lime to increase yields and fertiliser importers, distributors and retailers to import and distribute these new agriculture inputs,” Gisselquist said in the statement.

The field tour brought together farmers and agro-dealers from Gakenke, Rulindo, Ngororero, Nyabihu, Rubavu and Burera districts.

The statement indicates that, while preparing for the season 2015A, the project established 2,700 fertiliser and lime demonstration fields across the country "with the purpose of helping farmers to fix soil nutrients deficiencies and make their own decision on the rate and type of fertiliser to be used to increase yields”.

"It was discovered during the demonstrations that when farmers use the usual fertiliser and extra nitrogen, phosphorus and or potassium, as well as the new fertilisers containing micronutrients and lime for acidic soil, their productivity has been increasing from 4.5 tonnes per hectare to 5.7 tonnes per hectare for maize, from 4.2 tonnes per hectare to 5.7 tonnes per hectare for wheat, from 4.3 tonnes per hectare to 5.9 tonnes per hectare,” it added.

The IFDC/PReFER, or International Fertiliser Development Centre/Privatisation of Rwanda’s Fertiliser Import and Distribution System project is funded by USAID and supports the Ministry of Agriculture in the privatisation process of the fertiliser sector.

The government privatised fertiliser trade and distribution last year, a move that has increased access to fertiliser across the country.

The project aims to increase fertiliser use and address food security. It has, since early last year, engaged in demonstration fields in partnership with Rwanda Agriculture Board, agro-dealers, smallholders and stakeholders in the agriculture sector.

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