Residents join hands to curb soil erosion

KARONGI – A few weeks into the rainy season, residents of Karongi district have demonstrated a strong combined effort to help farmers living on mountainous areas to avoid soil erosion on their farms.

Saturday, April 03, 2010
LEADS THE WAY: Karongi mayor Bernard Kayumba (centre) leads residents in digging up a trench to cub soil erosion. (Photo: S. Nkurunziza)

KARONGI – A few weeks into the rainy season, residents of Karongi district have demonstrated a strong combined effort to help farmers living on mountainous areas to avoid soil erosion on their farms.

Scores of residents of Gitarama village, in Bwhisyura sector were yesterday involved in a communal exercise of digging terraces and trenches to help contain the fast flowing water which causes soil erosion on their farms during the rainy season.

Alongside all other local leaders led by the district mayor Bernard Kayumba, the residents exhibited a lot of zeal to check on soil erosion which reportedly lowers their agricultural yields most especially at the end of the rainy season.

"As much as the dry season affects the agricultural produce, when it rains a lot we experience a significant drop as farmers. This is a very commendable exercise to work together as residents,” Jean Paul Karimunda, one of the residents observed.

He added that the presence of their local leaders leant an extra boost to their efforts as they struggled to adopt better methods of farming.

On his part, the district mayor pledged more support to such moves made by residents.

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