Mindset change:Improving social wellbeing HUYE/NYANZA – Residents in the districts of Huye and Nyanza say that the land consolidation policy has contributed greatly to improving their social wellbeing.The land consolidation programme seeks to bring together fragmented plots of land and encourage the cultivation of particular crops on the consolidated land in the spirit of maintaining food security.Several farmers in Huye and Nyanza told The New Times that as a result of the land consolidation policy, their crop production is higher and their socio-economic wellbeing has improved.Jean Nepomuscene Baramenye, a resident of Ntyazo sector in Nyanza District, said: "We are seeing a positive impact since we started cultivating selected crops. Malnutrition is no longer an issue in our community.”Leah Mukantwari, a resident of Rubona cell in Kinazi sector, chose to plant maize on his land. She reports that the new strategy has helped her to improve her social welfare."Maize crops have an increased output when compared to other crops we used to plant, like beans, for instance,” she noted."I encourage other farmers to embrace the land consolidation programme because it is more beneficial. Growing selected crops yields much more than the traditional mixed farming”.Emmanuel Dusabumuremyi, another Huye farmer, observed that the challenge which they are facing is inadequate farm land. Otherwise, he said, the policy’s impact is very positive to the community.He also hailed government’s efforts in availing farmers with fertilisers."This played a very important role in increasing the soils’ fertility. Today, once we plant we are sure our efforts will pay off except in cases of disease outbreak, which is also rare.”William Ngamije, another farmer, said: "When the productivity is up, we get enough money to meet our needs, like paying for health insurance or purchasing other items needed in our daily life.”There are, however, those who are still inclined towards the traditional mixed farming practices despite the positive reports from the land consolidation. Vital Migabo, the Executive Secretary of Kinazi sector, says efforts to have each and every resident embrace the land consolidation policy are underway."We concentrate much more on sensitising them in order to show the benefits of this policy. It is our responsibility as leaders to show residents the returns of such initiatives,” he said."We are hopeful that the few who are still reluctant will finally change as they will realise the advantages of the policy.”The Land Use Consolidation is part of strategies and activities carried out under the Crop Intensification Programme (CIP), geared towards increased food production to ensure food security and self-sufficiency.Through the programme, the government distributes fertilisers and improved seeds to farmers as a way of increasing their production.Josiane Kalisoni Irankunda, the Coordinator of the Crop Intensification Programme (CIP) in the Ministry of Agriculture, says since its introduction in 2007, the programme has played an important role in uplifting the lives of many Rwandans.She observed that the programme has improved food security in the country and reduced the number of people living in poverty."The increased profitability through crop production has uplifted the economic well being of thousands of farmers,” she said."For instance, over 10 000 households in Kirehe District [Eastern Province] who used to live in grass thatched houses have been able to build themselves decent houses, thanks to intensive maize cultivation,” Kalisoni observed."As famine ravaged some of our neighbouring countries a few years ago, the population here was safe thanks mainly to efforts conducted to increase the agricultural production. This is a sign that the programme is bearing fruit.”Statistics from the Ministry of Agriculture indicate that consolidated lands have been increasing since the policy’s adoption, from 28,788 Ha in 2007 to 254,000 Ha in 2010 and 502,916 Ha in 2011.The same statistics show that maize and wheat production have increased six-fold. They also show that production of Irish potato and cassava has tripled while the production of rice and beans increased by 30% in the past 4 years.A survey conducted by the National Institute of Statistics Rwanda (NISR) revealed that poverty in the country has dropped by 11.8 percent since 2006. The survey, released early last month, attributed the progress to various initiatives introduced by the Government with the aim of improving the lives of the population especially through the Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy (EDPRS).