Nyagatare – The government has reiterated its commitment to promote proper usage of farmland.The Minister of Natural Resources, Stanislas Kamanzi, made the remarks while addressing hundreds of Nyagatare farmers embroiled in land conflicts and violence on Thursday.He urged the residents to conform to existing land laws, saying there were put in place for a purpose, adding that the government’s commitment to promote modern farming could not be overemphasised."We aim at sustainable development, which is why, we can’t allow you to mess up the land government gave you. Selling the land is illegal…both the buyer and the seller will lose,” he told anxious looking farmers.In 2008, the government offered land to most residents in Nyagatare, Gatsibo, Kayonza and Kirehe districts, under the land sharing and distribution programme.According to authorities, Nyagatare residents boasts of the largest chunks of farmland in the country.Under the Ministerial decree No. 08/2005, most farmers in the aforementioned districts were given about 10 hectares of land for farming. Kamanzi noted that over 70 percent of Rwandans own only less than half a hectare of land."It is only this province, Nyagatare District in particular, that we have abundant land for farming…you know 3-25 hectares per family on average. It explains why we push for extensive modern farming.”It is on record that some parcels of land set aside for exclusively animal husbandry has been converted for crop growing.The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Ernest Ruzindaza, however, attracted applause from farmers when he clarified that only two hectares of the total acreage a farmer owns could be used for crop production.In their relentless efforts to violate the land law that prohibits crop production on land reserved for animal husbandry, residents cultivate crops at night without the knowledge of grassroots leaders.Eastern Provincial Governor, Odette Uwamariya, said that some farmers had in the past assaulted cell leaders attempting to enforce the law.Some farmers who spoke to The New Times however called on the government to allow them to practise mixed farming.A farmer in the area, Stephen Rwamurenzi, reiterated the need to punish farmers who do not adhere to the land law.