EDITORIAL: Citizens should embrace modern sustainable agricultural practices

Over 72 per cent of Rwandans are employed in the agriculture sector, which is largely subsistence in nature with most peasant farmers using traditional implements and practices. However, with the scarcity of arable land in the country, it’s obvious that these agricultural practices are not sustainable. That’s why programmes that promote modern farming methods, and agricultural diversification that allow individuals and farmers co-operatives to embrace high-yielding crops and livestock breeds should be supported to take the sector the next level. Yes, Rwanda’s agriculture should be headed toward large-scale production, mechanization, as well as high-yielding and high return crops like flowers that have ready market in Europe. That’s why such schemes as the agriculture technology, spearheaded by the China–Rwanda Agriculture Technology Demonstration Centre (C-RATDC) in Huye District, should be supported by all Rwandans to help improve production. Farmers should be encouraged to make use of the centre to acquire better agricultural techniques and, ultimately, increase production and earnings to improve their livelihoods. Already, the initiative has benefited close to 1,300 people, including technicians, university students and farmers, and noticeable improvement has since been registered with some farmers’ output increasing more than twofold. As the Huye centre is specialised in modern rice and mushroom growing, it is important that other programmes be established to support farmers involved in other crops and livestock production. This will go a long way in helping to further improve the sector’s productivity and farmers’ incomes, thus bringing poverty levels down from the present 39.1 per cent. Indeed, it is such initiatives that will play a key role in the realisation of the country’s development goals, like creating more jobs for the youth, value-addition, and export diversification. It is important to encourage peasant farmers to embrace programmes that promote modern sustainable agricultural practices if they are to gain more from their farming activities.

Opinions

EDITORIAL: Citizens should embrace modern sustainable agricultural practices