Rwandan farmers could soon start to grow coffee and bananas on the same garden following a recommendation by agriculture researchers.

Researchers at Rwanda Agriculture Board (RAB)’s Rubona research Station in Huye District say they carried out trial on a plantation in Rusatira Sector whose findings show that the two crops can grow well together.

According to the lead researcher, Joseph Bigirimana, the development would respond to land shortages and complement coffee produce which takes long to harvest.

However, not all types of banana can grow well together with coffee, except those which grow higher than coffee, such as ‘Injagi’ whose shade can benefit coffee.

The experiment was done more than a year ago, when the first ‘Injagi’ banana suckers were planted in the RAB Rubona coffee plantation.

Bigirimana said the research was based on reports from other countries showing that coffee and certain banana types can benefit each other.

"We are still looking for information about production, coffee quality and the crop disease resistance or disease threats and control when the two crops coexist,” he said.

"We looked at other crops which can grow well together. Crops such as maize and beans did not work out as farmers cut the roots feeding coffee while tilling. But for banana, you grow them once and you will only need to prune it,” he noted.

He explained that coffee and bananas have got common traits as they grow well on mulched ground and both flourish in wetlands.

The researchers are still studying the distance that should be left between banana and coffee trees for better growth.

After ascertaining all this, that is when they we will decide whether the practice is good and suitable to be adopted by Rwandan farmers or not, he added.

For farmers it is good news as it would help them maximise land use.

Theopiste Nyiramahoro, a representative of coffee farmers and president of Rwanda Coffee Cooperatives’ Federation (RCCF), said this will encourage farmers to grow more coffee.

Nyiramahoro said she has 17,000 coffee trees and has started harvesting bananas planted in her coffee plantation in 2008.

She, however, said what she did had no technical or scientific proof, adding that the new research findings should be disseminated widely among farmers.

"I am comfortable growing coffee and other crops together. I tried it and I have been harvesting very big bunches of bananas,” she said.

"When coffee is grown along with bananas, a farmer can harvest bananas before coffee matures.”

Theophile Biziyaremye, a farmer and manager of Abahuzamugambi ba Kawa Maraba, cooperative with over 1,200 members in Huye District, told The New Times that it would be a good move to grow coffee and bananas on the same piece of land since coffee takes three years to be ready for harvest.

"Farmers would benefit from both coffee and bananas but it’s vital to consider whether it will not compromise quality,” he said.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw