Community extension workers to embark on modern farming

NYAGATARE - Community livestock health providers in the Eastern Province have committed to embark on modern farming in order to boost local production. The farmers made the commitment last Friday after completing a three-week training course on different farming methods at EER premises in Nyagatare District. The training attracted 81 livestock health providers from the districts of Rwamagana, Gatsibo and Nyagatare. It was financed by the East Africa Dairy Development Project and facilitated by Umutara Polytechnic University. Closing the workshop, the EADD country project manager, Emmanuel Munyandinda, urged farmers to disseminate the knowledge they acquired from the training to other farmers in their respective districts. Munyandinda, urged the participants to practice modern farming that will increase yields, which should ultimately improve their livelihoods. There is need to observe modern animal husbandry practises for the purposes of boosting productivity, he told the participants. “Modern animal husbandry is key to boosting production. This is very important for the purposes of driving out poverty,” he said. Dr. Elia Bukenya, the head of Umutara Polytechnic’s veterinary medicine department, who represented the university Rector, thanked EADD for linking the university with community based farmers. Antoine Rwiririza, one of the farmers from Rwamagana District, said that they will use the acquired knowledge to transform their local communities. Financed by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, EADD has exhibited a tremendous improvement in farming sector in the province. Ends