Editor,

RE: "Mechanisation: who will maintain farm implements?” (The New Times, August 7).

I want to address Mr. Nziyonsenga, whom I clearly see lacks information on what’s happening in agriculture mechanisation in Rwanda.

I am one of the employees of a company that is working as private partners to the Ministry of Agriculture (Minagri) in promoting agriculture mechanisation and beneficiaries of this government initiative and I felt bad when he tried to say something which he does not have complete knowledge about.

Yes, the government has already started to work with private partners to develop the skill set to support the private sector to reduce costs of training in the country with the help of the Ministry of Education, MINAGRI and the Work Development Authority.

There are ongoing programmes at Gishari Integrated Polytechnic and Kavumu TVET on mechanisation operation and maintenance of the machines, and youths are deeply involved in creating employment opportunities.

In addition, MINAGRI is working on setting up a model farm and a centre of excellence to support further investors in agriculture mechanisation.

To achieve the required level of expertise, it will of course take time. Agriculture is a long term venture; so let’s hope with new private players the life of farmers change.

If one really wants to know statistics and what’s happening in mechanisation they should approach the Mechanisation Department at MINAGRI to get a clear picture of what’s really happening in the country.

I am sure you will be surprised with achievements registered with the support of private partners in less than 18 months.

Emmanuel

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The opinion is emitted by an independent critique in material culture, and an experienced product developer currently actively involved in Rwanda agri-business too.

Obviously, it’s impossible for anyone to know everything happening around in the entire country.

But my opinion is derived from several direct observations and dealings in the field throughout the country. And being an employee for one company, I guess Emmanuel neither checked the equipment inventory in all agri-model farms, in all  of the Rwanda Agriculture Board stations, nor in all MINAGRI extension stations.

I have broadly inspected some...

However, I am happy to learn about the activities enumerated by Emmanuel, about all those plans and objectives. Hopefully, we’ll come across each other again, and assess together positively the outcomes of all those endeavours, 18 months from now.

Francois-Xavier Nziyonsenga