The Minister of Agriculture, Agnes Kalibata, on Tuesday handed over tractors for farming at Bishenyi valley, in Rugarika sector of Kamonyi district.

The tractors are President Paul Kagame’s idea to increase agricultural productivity and make the country food secure.

Addressing the residents, the Minister urged them to embrace the opportunity and use the tractors well.

Kalibata, called upon the farmers to do away with old methods of farming and use the tractors to speed up the work.

"The government wants women to restore the weaving culture which will also enable them generate income while men will be engaged in other productive ventures and no more wastage of time in tilling land,” Kalibata told the farmers.

Over 430 members of Ubumwe cooperative who use the 40 hectares of land in the valley, expressed their appreciation towards government for the tractors initiative.

According to the head of the Cooperative, Focus Habyarabatuma, tractors will address the problems of labor, save their time and help them keep at par with farming seasons.

He added that this is to their advantage as each member of will be contributing only Frw 500 to use the tractor per hour, half what they paid laborers who could not even till one acre.

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