RADA to improve banana yield

Rwanda Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), a government agency charged with improving agricultural production has intensified banana multiplication promising to position the country as one of the leading banana producers in the Great Lakes Region. The agency is introducing disease resistant and high yielding banana varieties of commercial value to boost household incomes and food production for both the local and international markets. “New banana species and better farming techniques are introduced to farmers to intensify production in a small area,” said Patrice Hakizimana, Director of RADA. “It has come when the country’s cultivatable land is 25 per cent of its total land.” And that this could also help have enough produce for food security and sale contrary to subsistence production before, he said. Hakizimana said that emphasis is on the type used for food not for the production of brew. And that it will also supplement on the other food crops production in the country to feed the population. “Initially, banana farming has been grown traditionally but much damaged by the banana wilts. But this program will transform for a better resistant quality and increased production,” he said. He said that farmers are organized and sensitized on better farming methods with the provision of fertilizers and pesticides. He revealed that the initiative is currently in the eastern province with the support of cooperatives, ministry of agriculture and other authorities under the ministry of local government. However, it is expected to spread to other provinces with more support by rural sector support along other supportive agencies.Ends