New partnership to improve agric

The Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in East and Central Africa (ASARECA) has joined the government in helping farmers to improve their yields. Many farmers have benefited from the association’s assistance in financial and capacity building needs.ASARECA is a sub-regional non- profit organisation that works in eleven countries with the aim of strengthening agricultural research extension and training.Christine Murebwayire the president of Cooperative de production du Vin de Banane (COPROVIBA) in Mutendeli in Ngoma District said they have now gone back to school since they no longer have cash problems.The cooperative of 20 women processes banana wine, juice and fibres.She said they obtained financial advice and training from the researchers from National University of Rwanda supported by ASARECA that also helped in building the new ripening building.Before getting the assistance, they used to have the capacity to ripen 1 tonne of bananas, but with the support it increased to 5 tonnes.Currently the cooperative produces 230 crates of banana wine per week, up from the 120 crates. “We now export our products to Burundi, Tanzania and DRC and we are looking for ways to expand the market,” she disclosed.Dr Legu George Lugor, an agricultural scientist from South Sudan, said he learnt much from the wine production and invited the cooperative to showcase its products in his country, adding that it was imperative for the Sudanese to learn from the cooperatives.“I thought banana was just for eating, but this is new technology. We are going to invite the cooperative so that our farmers can learn from them,” he noted. Dr Aime Lala Razafinjara, ASARECA Board Director, hailed the farmers for complying with the assistance from the association pledging more support.“We are impressed and satisfied with what we have seen today. We are committed and we want to provide more support to ensure that the region is food secure,” he said.Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and South Sudan are all members of ASARECA. The association’s board of directors are currently in Kigali for their biannual meeting.