Dear editor,

The policy adopted by Nyagatare District, as reported in your issue of June 6, to buy food grains from dealers, to store for future use is commendable.

Whereas climate change is partly to blame for food shortages, in certain parts of the country like Bugesera, we can not keep on lamenting.

In some areas poverty levels cause persistent food shortages. Farmers cultivate and sell a large part of their low crop yields to meet their daily needs.

The government should therefore adopt the Nyagatare policy and enforce a uniform one countrywide through Sectors and or Districts to ensure food security practices.

If for example each Sector has food reserves it would help ensure that each family has food at their disposal.

Alternatively the government should be buying grains from farmers during time of plenty, and sell it during scarcity at subsidized prices.

Sector agronomists should also leave offices and spend more time in the field reaching out to farmers to ensure that all farmers especially in rich agricultural areas cultivate all the available land. 

Kacyiru