EASTERN PROVINCE

NGOMA — Rwanda Coffee Development Authority (Ocir café) yesterday officially launched a fertilizer application drive  on coffee plantations in Ngoma district.

The event the first of its kind in the country that was held in Sakara, Murama sector was launched by Alex Kanyankole, the Director General of Ocir Café.

Sakara is one of the leading coffee producing areas in Ngoma district with an output of close to 400 tones annually. Ngoma district received 150 tones of fertilisers out of an expected 181 tones.

Over three tones of fertilisers were applied on 13,108 coffee trees during the launch. Murama has about 160,000 coffee trees that need fertilisers.

Kanyankole called on the coffee growers to utilize the fertilisers which he said will help them increase their output.

He added that the application of the fertilizers will be done through communal work commonly known as Umuganda. This has been necessitated by the need of ensuring proper use of the fertilizers handed out to the farmers.

"The previous system did not put to good use what was offered. Many people did not use the fertilisers as intended,” Kanyankole said. "Using communal work in applying these fertilisers in all coffee plantations will therefore solve this problem,” he added.

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