Cereal output up 18.7%

Rwanda is increasingly attaining food security after the country recorded an increase in national cereal production, reflecting the effectiveness of the government’s crop intensification programme and favourable climatic conditions. Total cereal production rose by 18.7 percent from 629 tonnes in season A and B of 2009 to 747 tonnes this year driven by an increase in maize and wheat production, according to official figures. In terms of annual trends, national maize output increased by 53.7 percent to 441 tonnes while wheat production climbed by 19.1 percent to 287 tonnes, Nobert Sendege, the Director General of Rwanda Agriculture Development Authority (RADA) told Business Times in an interview. The trend has increased national cereal stocks and also furthered dynamic trading in maize between Rwanda and its neighbouring countries, the Central Bank said in a statement last week. “Following a particular emphasis on cereals production, Rwanda is currently recording a boom in maize production with an increase of 53.7 percent in 2010, compared to 2009,” the central bank’s monetary policy statement reads in part. Sendege said that maize plantations increased to 75,000 ha from 35,000 ha and wheat is now grown on 8000 ha.However, production of sorghum slid by 15.3 percent to 148 tons. Overall Rwanda’s agriculture sector carried on its momentum during the last two years. Sendege said that the Task Force for Post Harvest will ensure that storage machines are procured to dry, store and process maize flour. In order to increase agricultural production, government will spend an estimated Rwf 28billion on seeds and fertiliser to help farmers in the country produce bumper harvests this season. Ends

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Cereal output up 18.7%