Kamonyi farmers get organic fertiliser making skills

FARMERS in Kamonyi District hope to double their production after learning how to make high-quality organic fertilisers.In a session held over the weekend, the farmers grouped under several cooperatives were taught how to make the fertiliser by mixing plants, green herbs, household organic waste, ash and water to produce the compost, a rich organic fertiliser.The training, held in Kayumbu marshland, was organised by Rwanda Rural Rehabilitation Initiative (RWARRI) through its Improving productivity and Market Access project.The project targets 18,000 farmers in the districts of Kamonyi and Muhanga of the Southern Province and Rwamagana and Ngoma in the East.Two maize and soya beans farmers from each cooperative operating in Kamonyi were trained and they will in return, train others. Celestin Ndahimana, the president of COPABU, one of the cooperatives, said that the acquired skills will help them address the issue of lack of fertilisers. Training others “It’s very hard for us to find enough household organic waste since we all don’t have cows or goats. With this technique we will no longer face the problem,” said Ndahimana.”Febronie Mujawabasindi, a member of another cooperative COPABUKI, said she would share the skills with other farmers in her area.“I will also carry the skills acquired today to my village,” Mujawabasindi said, noting that the whole process is not costly since everybody can find water, dry and green herbs or household waste. The Improving Productivity and Market Access project manager, Bel Ange Uwizeye told The New Times that they opted for this technique as it was proven rich and easy to make.He added that they wanted to align their project with government’s policy of improving agricultural productivity using a mixture of natural and chemical fertilisers. The vice mayor of Kamonyi District in charge of economic and development, Claudine Uwineza, said the initiative is in line with efforts to boost agriculture productivity and expressed hope the training would lead to increased agricultural productivity in this district once farmers follow all instructions.

National

Kamonyi farmers get organic fertiliser making skills