Agriculture transformation boosts food production

NORTHERN PROVINCE GAKENKE — Farmers in the Gakenke district who undertook land consolidation and grew specialised crops during this year’s season have begun to reap huge from the Agricultural revolution. In the Mugunga Sector, in Nyarutovu swamp, following the communal growing of maize, an estimated five tonnes per hectare is expected to be produced from over 70 hectares of land. Local authorities recently joined farmers during the biggest harvest ever in the history of the district in the first season. The district Mayor Damien Nduwayezu observed that it was a tremendous achievement to witness farmers produce more than what they could consume. “Whereas they previously could estimate the value of what was produced, now is the time to produce specifically for the market,’’ Nduwayezu said. The past cultivation method which was entirely mixed cropping had failed to bring substantial yields. The new method of growing a similar type of crop on consolidated land has brought new hope of ending poverty by increasing productivity for food consumption while ensuring surplus production which is then slated for sale. The leaders attributed the success of this bumper harvest to a massive sensitisation campaign, among residents on the usefulness of land consolidation, while employing new agricultural practices such as the use of hybrid seeds, fertilisers and spraying inputs. The farmers in Mugunga however, complained of the lack of maize pilling equipment and storage facilities to cater for the bumper harvest. Meanwhile, Rwanda Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) and the maize grilling machines in Nyabihu have expressed interest in buying the maize from Mugunga growers. According to the farmers, growing crops on hill sides, swampy valleys, soil erosion, floods, and lack of sufficient fertilisers are some of the outstanding challenges facing them. On the same day, residents in the Mugunga Sector who had received heifers under the One Cow per Family cattle stocking programme passed on 24 heifers to other beneficiaries. Ends