KAYONZA - Members of Parliament over the weekend called upon residents of Nyamirama sector, Kayonza district to adopt modern farming practices for sustainable food production. 

A total of 27 legislatures, led by Deputy Speaker, Jean Damascene Ntawukuriryayo, had ,on Saturday, joined residents of the sector, for the monthly community - Umuganda. 

The MPs also helped in the completion of Pineapple planting on over 12 hectares of land. Ntawukuriryayo emphasized that the communities need to embrace sustainable agriculture, if they are to pave way for sustainable development.  

"Farming activities that don’t destroy the environment is what we are encouraging,” he said, calling for adoption of modern agricultural practices. 

"We should avoid land fragmentation, it degrades land. The purpose of the land consolidation program is to achieve sustainable agriculture which leads to sustainable development.”

Damas Muhororo, the Mayor of Kayonza district said he was happy to have legislatures participate in the community work, because it motivates the residents. 

"MPs represent people, so people want to see them closer,” Muhororo said. "As for agriculture, we have gone far. There is no more famine in our district and our crop growing is market oriented.” 

Petero Habamake, 67, a resident of Rurambi village in Nyamirma told The New Times that the new agricultural methods have drastically increased crop production in communities. 

He said that people have shifted from the culture of growing multiple crops on a single piece of land, which affected crop yields. 

"If you go for sorghum alone, you harvest big, as opposed to growing beans, maize, bananas, at the same time,” he said. 

The sectors of Nyamirama, Rwinkwavu, Kabarondo and Mukarange of Kayonza district, are expected to grow pineapples on over 100 hectares. Juice and Yoghurt factory, Inyange has promised to buy all their produce. 

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