The New Times' Emmanuel Ntirenganya has been recognised as best reporter in Public Financing in Agriculture Reporting.

The awards for best reporters/ journalists on Public Financing in Agriculture were organised by Action Aid Rwanda.

Ntirenganya, who emerged the overall winner, was awarded for his story Smallholder women farmers call for more support to boost agriculture, published on June 27, 2015.

The story was commended for the good headline, well introduced subject, statistics, diversity of quotes and resonating well with national aspirations and international commitments.

Issa Kwigira, a journalist from Radio Flash, scooped the second best overall reporter award.

Other journalists who won awards were Denise Uwase from Pax Press, Jean Elyse Byiringiro from Indatwa newspaper, Prudence Kwizera from Radio Salus and Igihe, Leonard Tukamwibonera from Contact FM, Faustin Sibomana from Radio Salus, Muyango from Rwanda Focus and Mico Bonaventure from City Radio.

Ntirenganya and Kwigira walked away with HP laptops and certificates of excellence, while others were awarded cameras, recorders and certificates.

Handing over the prizes, yesterday, at Remera in Kigali, James Butare, the head of programmes and policy at Action Aid International, Rwanda, congratulated the winners and urged them to strengthen beat reporting.

"It would be better if a journalist specialises in one field. Specialisation builds the capacity to report stories with authority. The community does not want stories based on events that take place. It wants field stories, including problems that the local farmers are facing. Such stories make an impact,” Butare said.

He promised that Action Aid Rwanda will always work closely with the media to build the capacity of journalists through regular training on issues to do with agriculture financing and rural development.

He advised journalists to form an agriculture journalists’ association to provide them a sense of belonging, direction and focus.

The New Times’ Ntirenganya appreciated the award. He advised his colleagues to use their efforts to contribute to the community by reporting enterprising and balanced stories.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw