Nyaruguru District has received a US $5 million grant from the South Korean government through the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) for agricultural activities. The deal was arrived at recently after the Nyaruguru District officials and KOICA representatives agreed on the terms and conditions of the three-year project. The funds will be used in the construction of contour terraces of about 400 hectares in Kibeho Sector, support livestock cooperatives by purchasing at least 200 heifers, modernise maize growing, and milk production, among other things.“The project is timely and will boost the agriculture and land consolidation programme in the district,” said Nyaruguru Mayor, Francois Habitegeko. “We expect to increase agricultural productivity once this project is complete.”The project starts with the next fiscal year in 2013, according to a memorandum of understanding signed between the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) officials and the district.On behalf of the Korean government, Lee Sangan mentioned that the project would contribute to the district’s endeavour in poverty reduction and improved livelihood among residents. Although Nyaruguru is one of the most underdeveloped districts in the country, it has managed to reduce poverty levels by 23 per cent.Residents say that farming activities have been affected by soil erosion and land degradation, but are optimistic that the project would highly boost their ambitions towards poverty alleviation. According to a local farmer Jean Claude Nizeyimana, “once the biggest problem of land consolidation is solved, the farmers will be able to use modern methods of farming and increase output and thus increase incomes.”
