GATSIBO- On a feeder road leading to Gitoki sector in Gatsibo district, when you talk about Apollo Rutagarama, little children will eagerly volunteer to lead you to the home of the farmer who has excelled due to various agriculture ventures.

According to residents, Rutagarama is known as a great farmer in the area but earned prominence in May last year, when President Paul Kagame visited him. He’s now a famous model farmer in the area.

Rutagarama, a resident of Gitoki sector in Gatsibo district, is one of the few farmers have worked exceptionally hard.

Having started his farming practices on a small piece of land in 1997, Rutagarama kept his hardworking secret through modernizing his business venture until May last year, when news broke out across the district that he had been selected as the best farmer to be visited by the President.

As part of his tour of the Eastern Province, President Kagame paid a visit to Rutagarama’s home and toured his farming activities that include cattle and modern banana and pineapple plantations.

Rutagarama, a retired RDF soldier, who owns over 20 hectares of a model farm where he rears over 20 Friesian cows; modern banana and pineapple plantations, could not believe that a person of the President would get interested in visiting his farming activities.

"To me, the President’s visit to my home proved that we have a visionary leadership but on the other hand means that ‘any type of job can take you anywhere and meet any body’.  I could not believe it when the district Mayor informed me that our President will visit my activities,” says Rutagarama.

More excitingly, Rutagarama was handed by President Kagame, a brand new TOYOTA double cabin pick up, as a sign of appreciating him for his outstanding performance in farming.

The Minister in the President’s Office, Venantie Tugireyezu, on behalf of President Kagame handed over the vehicle worth Rwf29 million to Rutagarama.

"The president’s gift was a catalyst to my efforts in doing a lot more. It will facilitate me in terms of transport and other farming activities,” he says.

Other awards received

Courtesy of his outstanding improvement in farming, Rutagarama has, among other awards, been honored by the Ministry of agriculture for his exemplary role in promoting modern farming.

"I recently received a modern irrigation farming machine from the Ministry of Agriculture in one of agriculture trade fairs that was held in Kigali. This machine is used mostly during the dry season. It will help me to stabilize the quantity of milk production,” he says.

Courtesy of his successful venture, Rutagarama has passed on cows to over 90 poor residents in his area and trained his neighbours in modern farming techniques.

Anaclet Kazimbaya is one of Rutagarama’s neighbours who benefitted from his farming techniques. H says that before adopting his neighbour’s farming technology, his annual yields could not even help him manage to send his children to school.

However, he was overwhelmed by the way life has changed as a result of his neighbour’s inspirational farming advice.

"I planted bananas but had very little annual yields. But since Rutagarama started sharing with us new farming techniques, I pocket over Rwf100, 000 profit from my banana plantations,” he said.  

Jean Pierre Harerimana, another resident who was given a Frisian cow by Rutagarama shares his views; "Apart from Rutagarama’s advice, he is a real Rwandan with all cultural values. He expressed this by passing on a Frisian cow to me and I no longer have any problem concerning milk at home and manure for my banana plantations.”

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