EASTERN PROVINCE

GATSIBO — Gatsibo district has launched exemplary hills commonly called ‘agasozi ndatwa’. The launch of the hills is likely to increase agricultural production by 8 per cent annually.

At the launch recently, Uladimir Ayimpaye, the area coordinator of rural sector support programme told sector and cell executive secretaries that the program would elevate the production rate by 8 per cent every year.

"Since 2003 to-date, the average agricultural growth is zero so the government decided to start this programme to increase the out put of agricultural produce,” Ayimpaye said.

"It was discovered that to achieve our target of Vision 2020, the economic growth should be 7 per cent per year while our agricultural growth should be 8 per cent per year,” the coordinator added.

Ayimpaye said that ‘exemplary hills’ in villages would be selected by the cell and sector authorities. Similar hills would also be set up at cell and sector levels.

Modern agriculture and livestock farming will be carried out on the set up terraced hills, using selected seeds, fertilizers, and irrigation techniques.

Under the arrangement, local residents in the selected zones are expected to meet certain requirements that include having bank accounts, health insurance, enrolling all children in schools among other things.

John Murego, the district Mayor said the awareness campaign among resident would begin later this month.

"We are going to use the week of community work, ‘Umuganda’ to meet our residents and explain to them how this programme will be implemented,” he said.

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