Musanze residents upbeat over biogas project

Residents in Musanze are already benefiting from a biogas project which was introduced in several villages in the district a year ago.Over forty homes are now benefiting from the ongoing program in which the beneficiaries are first given two cows and asked to look after them until they produce enough raw materials for the construction of a domestic-size biogas plant.Most of the beneficiaries say the project has helped them improve both their social and economic lives.“There is milk to supplement the available food and at the end of the bio production process, fertilizers that are generated help to nourish our gardens and increase agricultural yields,” Alphonse Niyomugabo, one of the beneficiaries explained. He added that unlike in the recent past, rural residents are now able to afford a balanced diet.The biogas programme was initiated with support from Safer Rwanda, a local NGO that strives for peace building and prosperity.Last week, the NGO donated forty more cows to expand the project. Jubilant residents expressed optimism as they received the cows.“We mainly target to provide an alternative source of energy whereby people will no longer cut down trees and this will contribute to environmental conservation and protection,” Christine Muhongerwa, the Executive Secretary of Safer Rwanda, said.Musanze District Vice Mayor in charge of social affairs Vincent Ndayambaje observed that the development is in line with the government’s program of elevating Rwandans out of poverty.