Ngoma-The Eastern Province plans to grow maize and beans on 113,000 hectares of land next season, local leaders said Tuesday during the launch of the Crop Intensification Program (CIP) in the area.

A diverse range of crops for various areas were identified, and fertilisers availed to farmers under the CIP.

Boniface Ntirenganya, an official in charge of Economic Planning in the Province, told The New Times that sustainable crop production was already in place.

"Maize, beans, rice and cassava are some of the crops earmarked. Eastern Province is suitable for agriculture...we want to enhance production of crops. The launch was just a demonstration, but this will continue in all districts,” he said.

Ntirenganya noted that the Province aims at not only ensuring food security, but also supplying regional markets.

"We are the food basket of the country, capable of producing for external markets”.

The Mayor of Ngoma District, Francois Niyotwagira, said crop intensification would ensure food security.

He reflected that since the introduction of land consolidation in the district, agricultural output had increased significantly.

"I think the days of hunger and famine are now history. Farmers are given fertilisers on subsidised prices, tractors are available for hire cheaply and farmers are assured of technical support from agronomists,” he said.

"The trend is superb...use of fertilisers has made every land productive,” he noted.

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