Gishari Integrated Polytechnic (GIP) has started a new programme to help farmers adopt the use of machines in their agricultural activities, so as to improve on productivity.

The mechanisation programme in the agriculture sector saw the government establish an agricultural mechanisation workshop at the school.

GIP is a new police-run Technical and Vocational Education Training school based in Rwamagana District. It is supported by Workforce Development Authority (WDA).

According to the Principal of the school, ACP Sam Karemera, the programme is geared at empowering farmers not only through giving them access to mechanisation services but also with skills to operate the machines.

He told The New Times, yesterday, that the school will equip farmers with the modern farming skills.

"We have started training our students in agricultural skills development. We acquired agriculture equipment, especially tractors, that will be used in teaching the farmers the modern way of farming.” he said.

"There is an issue of failure to use or maintain the tractors…most tractors are lying idle in districts. The problem is lack of expertise.

‘‘We are coming in to end this kind of wastage of resources. The new mechanical workshop will equip  individuals or farmers’ cooperatives with knowledge and skills on how to use machines,” he added.

Theogene Habiyakare, one of the agriculture mechanisation experts, said he is more than convinced that these skills would help farmers harvest more produce.

The Ministry of Agriculture, recently, established the Village Mechanisation Service Centre’s (VMSC).

The centres will be equipped with various agriculture equipments including tractors power tillers, disc ploughs, trailers, water pumps and harvesters, among others.

GIP also acquired Hydraform Machines that produce 3,000 bricks per day. This is expected to accelerate the setting up of GIP infrastructure.

The main objective of GIP is to strategically respond to the skills development challenges facing the country across all sectors of the economy.