According to residents of Kamonyi district, cultivating on radical terraces increases production and prevents soil erosion. Alex practices agriculture as a livelihood. He began cultivating on radical terraces two years ago. He confirms that since he begun using radical terraces, production has increased. He also hopes even the fields which were no longer productive will produce again.
According to residents of Kamonyi district, cultivating on radical terraces increases production and prevents soil erosion.
Alex practices agriculture as a livelihood. He began cultivating on radical terraces two years ago. He confirms that since he begun using radical terraces, production has increased. He also hopes even the fields which were no longer productive will produce again.
"It will help me to cultivate all my fields which were on steep slopes; I will be able to produce more from them,” Alex says with optimism.
Although this farmer has hope that this will improve, he says that there are still difficulties.
"To make these radical terraces is not easy because it demands particular knowledge or techniques or an expert.”
Bosco is an Agriculturist in the Southern province.
He says that he is proud of this activity because it is part of government’s programs. He however takes issue when it comes to compensation to farmers in the short term.
"There is lack of compensation. Farmers should be compensated because when terraces are made, they cannot cultivate immediately. They have to wait a while and then they also need to add fertilizers.”
This program has been introduced by the government of Rwanda through the Ministry of Agriculture’s land reform policy. It is meant to resolve the problem of erosion in mountainous regions.