Minister calls on leaders to ensure increased agriculture produce

EASTERN PROVINCE RWAMAGANA — The Minister of Commerce, Monique Nsanzabaganwa has asked Rwamagana district leaders to seek the support of development partners to improve agricultural production. “People should ensure that next season more food is produced to avoid food shortages in future. This is possible with your commitment to ensure that farmers have the needed support,” the minister said early this week, while addressing the District’s Joint Action Forum (JAF). During the meeting at Avega, the minister asked the development partners to support farmers to produce much more in 2009. Development partners were also asked to indicate their areas of intervention-whether they would increase or reduce their support to the district. Nsanzabaganwa urged district leadership to consider promotion of gender, children rights and private sector in their 2009 performance contract. She suggested that commercial banks sign performance contracts indicating how they would simplify the acquisition of credits for farmers, saying this would increase production. Valens Ntezirembo, the district Mayor, expressed pleasure with the district’s high performance indicators in some sectors like good governance and economy; which was attributed to improved infrastructure. He however, said that there is still need for improvement because there are some sectors that are still lagging behind. The meeting coincided with the public accountant day during which area residents asked various questions regarding uncompleted projects like schools. Ends