SOUTHERN PROVINCE

NYAMAGABE — The Prime Minister Bernard Makuza, has hailed the performance contracts locally known as Imihigo, as another local innovation that has made a big impact on governance and service delivery in the country.

"We want to see the impact of Imihigo programmes on the livelihoods of the local people,” said the Premier, as he presided over the last evaluation exercise of performance contracts, after the second quarter in Nyamagabe district on Wednesday.

The Prime Minister urged local leaders to avoid complacency and always strive to make the programme better.

Makuza enumerated that other successful programmes include traditional courts (Gacaca), community work (Umuganda), the health insurance scheme (Mutuelle de Santé) and the Green Revolution in agriculture, which has enhanced food production.

"The intensive cultivation of selected crops in different areas of the country helped us stave off hunger and high food prices as was the case in many countries in the world,” he said.

Makuza remarked that despite the general improvement registered in the different parts of the country, much effort is still needed in family planning campaigns and building houses for the vulnerable.

During the same function, Agriculture Minister, Christopher Bazivamo urged districts to insist on processing their produce for value addition.

"Farmers should be sensitised on the use of irrigation, and the importance of working in cooperatives, so that they not only produce for the local but also the international market,” said Bazivamo.

The issue of processing agricultural produce featured prominently in presentations by the different district heads. Cassava processing plants are being set up in Kamonyi, Huye, Muhanga, Nyaruguru and Nyanza while in Huye, the first ever beans processing plant is near completion.

The Province was also recognised for producing the best coffee in the country, according to this year’s National Cup of Excellence competitions.

According to Alex Kanyankore, the Director General of the Rwanda Coffee regulatory Authority, Ocir-Café, 12 out of the 24 best coffee samples at this year’s National Cup of Excellence competition were from the Southern Province.

"Coffee from this Province fetched a record US$ 39 per kilogram in a recent Internet Coffee auction,” Kanyankore said, and called upon districts to increase the production of quality coffee.

At the function, districts were ranked according to their performances in the last two quarters combined. According to the Provincial Governor, Fidele Ndayisaba, there was remarkable improvement in all districts as indicated by the high scores.

Gisagara came top in the second quarter but was beaten to the top spot by Nyamagabe- when results of the first and second quarters were combined. The evaluation exercise was conducted by the Province and other institutions.

Nyamagabe demonstrated great innovativeness where residents of Musange Sector, in Kaduha are now enjoying hydro electric power, thanks to a micro hydro power project made possible by residents and the district. The district has also promoted the use of human waste as fertilisers.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister was slated to continue his tour of Nyamagabe district yesterday to inspect various development projects.

Different government officials including ministers, Members of Parliament, army and Police authorities in the Province, attended the function.

Ends