GICUMBI- Terracing has boosted food production in Mukarange Sector, Gicumbi District, farmers and local leaders say.It is projected that 18 tonnes of Irish potatoes would be harvested from 59 hectares of land which was cultivated.
GICUMBI- Terracing has boosted food production in Mukarange Sector, Gicumbi District, farmers and local leaders say.
It is projected that 18 tonnes of Irish potatoes would be harvested from 59 hectares of land which was cultivated.
"This area once used to be unproductive until the introduction of terracing techniques, where farmers are expecting a high yield of Irish potatoes during this harvesting season.” said Paul Mbonyi, the Sector Executive Secretary.
He credited the introduction of terracing techniques to the government’s Vision Umurenge Program (VUP), which paid local residents to carry out the terracing the hilly slopes.
"We intend to practice crop rotation, where creeping beans will be planted on the terraced farms after harvesting the Irish potatoes during the B farming season,” added Mbonyi.
The sector agronomist, Ilodephonse Ndizihiwe, explains that area residents have adopted land consolidation to realize high crop yield. He added that 47 more hectares of terraced land are earmarked for Irish potatoes growth during the next farming season.
A representative of Mukarange Sector cooperative society (COPETRA), Drocella Mutuyeyezu, observed that terracing guarantees food security in the district.
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