Mayor urges residents to practice commercial farming

NORTHERN PROVINCE BURERA — Aimée Bosenibamwe, the Mayor of Burera district has urged residents to shift from traditional subsistence agriculture to commercial farming in order to eradicate poverty in their midst. He advised residents to embrace the government programme of green revolution by growing cash crops, make better use of the swampy areas and increase on their working hours. The Mayor was addressing residents who braved the heavy afternoon down pour to celebrate world Labour Day in Kidaho on Thursday. A march by students and residents highlighted the event. In the meantime, individual residents, NGOs, associations and cooperatives working in the district displayed products of their sweat as part of the activities. The district awarded Frw50,000 each, to the best two cooperatives; KAUKA Cooperative, a minor industry which processes sugarcane wine and CPEC-Cyanika a poultry keeping association which employs over 50 people. Over 20 representatives of learning institutions, NGOs, private entrepreneurs and health centres were all awarded certificates of merit. Special credit was given to Ntaruka health centre nurses for their family planning campaign which raised the record figures from 2% to 37% (women who adopted family planning) to become third in the country. Ecole Primaire de Rusasa was also recognised for having 25 students out of 26 pass in last year’s Primary Leaving Examinations. Rugarama sector which emerged the best sector in implementing performance contracts countrywide was also commended for steps taken in economic transformation. Corruption, injustice and lack of cooperation between employers and employees, Bosenibamwe said, should be dealt with if development is to be realised. Ends