In a bid to increase millet production, farmers in Burera District have introduced a new seed variety that is expected to be more productive.

Known as ‘Aigle10’ the variety is being piloted by Rwanda Agriculture Board.

It is believed to be of good quality both for consumption and industrial use.

The production per hectare is four tonnes and above– once best practices are applied unlike the previous variety locally known as Musamwa, whose produce was between one tonne and 2.5tonnes, said officials.

The variety is being tried in Rwerere Sector, where over 45hectares were planted during the launch of farming season 2 last week.

Local leaders and farmers welcomed the new seed variety, saying it would help them boost production.

They promised to put in more efforts to maximise yields and keep multiplying seeds to have enough own seeds in the future.

"We are grateful for the new seeds introduced to us as the old variety was not productive enough. We are hopeful that the new one will help us improve production for consumption with surplus for sale,” said Samuel Semarembo, a farmer.

"The soil in this area is fertile and millet is one of crops grown by farmers but over the past years, it was discouraging to grow millet due to poor yields, we hope that the new variety is different from what we had,” he added.

Seraphine Nyiramana, another farmer ,said she would work hard to boost production.

"Farmers sometimes fail to get good yields due to poor seeds, now that the government provides productive seeds, we will use all the possible ways to increase production,” she said.

Florence Uwambajemariya, the Burera District mayor, hailed the Rwanda Agriculture Board for trying the new seed variety in the district and urged famers to use the opportunity to maximise the variety’s potential for food security.

"There is need to apply best practices if yields are to increase. You don’t have to focus on one variety of seeds which is not productive,” she told farmers.

Jean Claude Zamuhaye, the head of RAB in the Northern Province, said the new variety has proved to be more productive, and advised farmers to put in more efforts and apply all possible for the trials to be successful.

He urged farmers to be more innovative and apply fertilisers which have been availed to them at subsidised prices.

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