About 600 hectares of wetlands in Kigali City have been earmarked for vegetable growing.

The Ministry for Agriculture announced this on Tuesday at the launch of vegetable farming in Kicukiro District’s, wetlands, that are expected to significantly impact on the feeding behaviours of city dwellers.

Beans, carrots, among other vegetables, are set to be planted on 23 hectares of the Kicukiro wetland, according to the ministry.

Speaking at the launch, Fulgence Nsengiyumva, the State Minister for Agriculture, said the ministry plans to grow vegetables in Kigali city’s wetlands and the surrounding districts. He said they intend to supply the harvests to local hotels.

He noted that the ministry would prepare wetlands which were not previously properly utilised.

"We will continue to encourage people who use these wetlands to grow vegetables because we are sure that money invested in such initiatives would be recovered,” said Nsengiyumva.

Nsengiyumva also urged farmers to adopt irrigation.

"We will work closely with farmers to avoid loses,” said Nsengiyumva.

Various plants, including sugar canes, and bananas, were piloted in Kajeke wetland previously but failed.

The plantations instead became a den of criminals, said Antoine Musonera, the president of Ibambe cooperative in Kajeke wetland which practices vegetable farming.

He said the first produce of various kinds of vegetables which have been planted will be available in three months.

"We will harvest every month and we are sure a ready market in Kigali,” Nsengiyumva noted.

Vegetables were found to be more suitable for Kicukiro District.

However, previously, farmers from Kajeke wetland tried vegetable growing but made losses due to drought.

Cecile Nyiranteziryimana, a member of Ibambe Cooperative, said they used to grow beans and maize in the valley.

Due to the new policy of growing vegetables and fruits in Kigali wetlands, we hope to get good produce from vegetables, she said.

"Previously, we lacked irrigation facilities and fertilisers but we hope to improve because the government gave us fertilizers and irrigation equipments. We used to use buckets and watering cans.”

The initiative should start with the big wetlands of the district, according to Kicukiro Mayor Dr Jeanne Nyirahabimana.

"The idea is to meet the high demand of vegetables on the market, we need to increase their supply and this wetland is good for vegetable farming,” said Nyirahabimana.

Nyirahabimana assured farmers of ready market.

But some farmers complained about restricting the valley to vegetable growing alone.

However, Nyirahabimana said there are some parts of the wetlands which were planned for maize growing.

Apart from Kajeke wetland, vegetables will be grown in other big wetlands of Kicukiro district such as Umushumba mwiza (19 hectares) and Rugende spanning 120 hectares.

Kicukiro has other wetlands in Gatenga and Masaka sectors which are also reserved for vegetable farming.

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