GAKENKE – Farmers in Gakenke District have started planting for this season after recording a bumper harvest from the previous one. The district has set a target of growing maize on over 300 hectares under the crop intensification program as part of national efforts to boost food security.
GAKENKE – Farmers in Gakenke District have started planting for this season after recording a bumper harvest from the previous one.
The district has set a target of growing maize on over 300 hectares under the crop intensification program as part of national efforts to boost food security.
In Cyabingo and Busengo sectors, an estimated 5 tonnes of maize per hectare are expected to be harvested on over 70 hectares of land.
The district Mayor, Damien Hakizayezu, after inaugurating the planting season in Cyabingo on Thursday, observed that crop and land consolidation, has helped to boost productivity levels.
He added that whereas the past cultivation method which was entirely mixed cropping had failed to bring substantial yields to fight poverty, the new method of cultivation under land consolidation has increased food production.
Farmers pointed out soil erosion and floods during the rainy season and inadequate farm inputs such as fertilizers as some of the outstanding challenges they face.
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