Musanze - The Minister of Agriculture, Agnes Kalibata, has challenged agronomists to help farmers increase agriculture production.

The Minister was speaking during a meeting with Local Government authorities and agronomists from the Northern Province.

The meeting outlined national agriculture targets ahead of the next season.

The ministry expects Burera District to cultivate crops on 32,824 hectares of land, Musanze 25473, Rulindo 22,620, Gakenke 18,783, while Gicumbi will cultivate 32136 hectares.

Beans, maize, Irish potatoes, and wheat were selected as the suitable crops to be grown on consolidated land next season.

"There is need to monitor the implementation of policies meant for agriculture transformation. You should help the farmers understand the logic of our programs, the benefits, and what they have to adopt,” Kalibata said.

The Minister called for monitoring of market trends for agriculture produce, and ensure that high quality produce reach collection centres.

The meeting cited failure to use terraces, poor land and crop consolidation and non application of fertilisers among the challenges hindering agriculture development in the province.

"In areas where agronomists are non functional, there is little, poor yields. Farmers are not sensitised to embrace the set agriculture policies. Why don’t you apply the knowledge you studied,’’ Kalibata asked the group.

The Governor, Aime Bosenibamwe, urged the agronomists to ensure timely planting and expansion of cultivation areas through terracing.

He said: "You should be prepared to transform the agriculture sector, land consolidation has not been implemented along the hilly sides.’’

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