NYAGATARE - The Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, Protais Mitali, has called on farmers in Nyagatare District to shift from subsistence to modern commercial farming.

He made the call during the launch of ‘season A 2012’ farming season in Nyagatare Sector on Wednesday.

The Minister, who is also the foreseer of Nyagatare District, joined a cooperative made up of ex-combatants in planting maize seeds on 26 hectares of land.

Mitali called on farmers to exploit the fertility of their land to increase production.

"You have this opportunity that the district’s land is still fertile…you should apply modern farming methods and conform to the government’s land consolidation program to increase production,” he said.

The minister advised the district’s youth to play a more active role in the country’s development.

"You are the driving force of the country’s development, but to attain this, it will require you to shun consumption of illicit drugs,” he said.

Rembo Butera, a model farmer and member of Nyagatare Maize Innovative Platform, said that they had increased maize production through consultation with the Rwanda Agriculture Board.

The District Mayor, Fred Atuhe Sabiiti, stressed the need for timely planting and called for concerted efforts to improve production.

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