Farmers in some parts of the Northern and Western provinces have warned of a possible food crisis following the recent floods that devastated the region. The floods caused by torrential rains in areas surrounding Virunga National Park, led to alienation of farmlands, resulting from soil erosion which washed away top soils and left bare rocks in the area.The floods, which also left dozens of families homeless, destroyed hundreds of plantations, roads and other infrastructure in the districts of Musanze, Nyabihu and Rubavu.“We don’t expect any harvest soon, all crops were destroyed, top fertile soils were washed away, the fertilisers were buried underneath, and we can’t grow crops on bare rocks. This is worrying because we have been depending on farming all these years,” said Gaudence Mukamanzi, from Kimonyi Sector,Jean Paul Sebashotsi, the Executive Secretary of Musanze Sector, said farmers will be offered new loans to buy seeds and fertilisers since they don’t expect any produce.“We want to avoid a crisis. We decided to support them because the land on which they depended has been destroyed, and residents lack means to completely stop the effects of heavy rains. We are trying to check these threats by re-channelling the water,” Sebashotsi saidLast weekend, during the monthly community work (Umuganda), residents gathered to dig channels, reopen the water ways of River Muhe, and Susa, which changed course causing disaster in the Virunga areas.“I had invested over Rwf500,000 in growing potatoes and beans. We are worried of what to eat in the future or how to purchase quality seeds, this area has lost fertility due to the floods,” said Crispo Hagenimana, a farmer from Musanze Sector.The Ministry of Disaster Management and Refugee Affairs (MIDIMAR), last week, distributed an assortment of food items and construction materials including corrugated iron sheets to the flood victims.Musanze District Vice Mayor, Jerome Mugenzi, said the destruction of infrastructure, especially feeder roads, has also affected the transportation of produce to the collection centres.“The economic development of this district depends on agriculture. If this phenomenon is not fully addressed, we don’t expect to achieve our targets,” Mugenzi said.The floods which hit the north and western provinces, killed five people, completely destroyed 265 houses, damaged 504 houses and destroyed 876ha of crops and plantations.
