EASTERN PROVINCE

BUGESERA — The government and the African Development Bank (ADB) have committed $13m (Frw7.5 Billion towards rice production in Bugesera district.

Silas Nyirindekwe, the vice Mayor in charge of economic development said that ADB contributed $10 million (Frw5.3 Billion) while the government will contribute $3m (Frw1.6 Billion) to the project.

According to Nyirindekwe under the Bugesera Agricultural Development Support Project (PADAB), the district would grow rice on 650 hectares of land in Mwesa valley in Mwogo sector.

He noted that the project aims at increasing agricultural production in Bugesera by setting up irrigation schemes on 650 hectares of the valley.

The project will protect water catchments areas and improve rain-fed farming on nearly 5000 hectares of land on surround hills. The money will also improve the capacity of farmers.

The project is expected to start its operation in the next sixteen months. Nyirindekwe said that farmers have started preparing the hills for water catchments and the valley where the rice will be grown.

PADAB will help rice farmers in irrigation, developing catchments areas, and project management.

Through irrigation of the Mwesa valley and protecting the neighbouring water catchments, the project would reduce the impact of drought.

"We are sure that our project will yield much for our district since it is comprised of experts in the related field," he said.

He explained that the project is comprised of the manager and specialist in agricultural and rural development (coordinator), a rural engineer in charge of irrigation development, an agronomist, a socio-economist and an environmentalist.

They will all work under the supervision of the Ministry of Agriculture, in coordination with district authorities.

It is projected that the development would increase agricultural production in the district by 25,000 tones over time.

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