WESTERN PROVINCE

RUBAVU — The best way to gain from farming is to transform it into a professional activity, a government official said.

Meeting farmers of Rubavu and Nyabihu districts recently, the minister of Commerce Protais Mitali said that Professionalism in agriculture was core in economic revolution.

People should take farming as a profession rather than a way of survival, he said.

He advised farmers to divert from subsistence to extensive production; for market, if they are to play a remarkable role in the implementation of the government economic revolution policy.

He noted that Rubavu and Nyabihu are some of the districts that were chosen to specialise in the growing of Irish potatoes; due to the nature of the soils and that a lot was expected from them.

"This is part of the government policy of the economic revolution. We hope specialisation at district levels will improve farmers’ production. The district authorities and the government will help farmers in securing market for their products," he said.

He called on farmers to embrace cooperatives, saying it would translate into collective benefits such as easy access to loans, access to improved seeds, credit agricultural inputs and other extension services from the government.

He advised members of the existing cooperative societies to avoid squabbles and share the existing market. He also advised farmers to establish ‘central points’ where buyers can access the produce.

"There has been a problem of exploitation by buyers from towns dealing directly with farmers. This deal has benefited traders and left farmers in poverty. That is why there is need for fixed prices on various agricultural products to enable farmers benefit from the works of their hands. I’m sure it can easily be achieved if farmers cooperated in cooperative societies," he said.

Mitali said specialisation in agriculture, will facilitate research and contribute towards food security, through increased agricultural productivity as well as increased returns for rural population.

The farmers promised to work harder; through cooperative societies but appealed to district authorities and the government, for required expertise and arbitration in cases of misunderstandings among members.

They stressed the need for price controls to reduce the continuous price fluctuations of agricultural products, and improved seeds to ensure good yields.

Ends