RWANDA: Measures to boost agriculture bear fruit
Rwanda, landet i Centralafrika, der blev kendt verden over efter folkemordet i 1994, da mindst 800.000 omkom, har i al stilhed gennemført en intensiveret satsning på sit landbrug og det har givet bonus – stor bonus
KIGALI, 12 January 2010 (IRIN): Rwanda has recorded a sharp improvement in food security following the government’s measures to boost agricultural production in 2009, officials said.
The government implemented a new agricultural strategy, which included timely distribution of seed and fertilizer, adoption of market-oriented farming methods and encouraging farmers to consolidate land.
“Timely distribution of farming inputs like fertilizers as well as improved seeds and a land consolidation programme boosted the sector in 2009”, according to a report by the government-run Rwanda Agriculture Development Authority on the Crop Intensification Programme.
Agricultural officials said the strategy, coupled with improved crop husbandry methods, boosted the output of major food crops such as maize, potatoes, cassava and rice.
Agnes Kalibata, Minister for Agriculture and Animal Resources, said the government’s aim was to end reliance on imported food by boosting local production.
– We have the land, the physical and human resources to achieve our target, she said.
According to data from the Rwanda Agriculture Development Authority, maize output in 2009 increased to 286,948 MT (metric tons) from 166,853 MT in 2008 while wheat output reached 72,478 MT from 67,868 MT in 2008.
During the same period, the production of Irish potatoes increased to 1.3 million MT from 1.1 million MT and rice production hit 95,105 MT from 82,024 MT in 2008.
Irrigation
Under the Crop Intensification Programme, focus was on farming methods such as mulching and irrigation, aimed at ending reliance on changing weather patterns.
Farmers were also discouraged from operating small fragmented farmlands and, officials said, the practice had particularly benefited maize farmers in Western Province, who are now cultivating in large plantations on a communal basis.
– Average maize yields in the province are now around 7 MT per hectare, from an average of 4 MT two years ago, said Paul Munyakazi, a research associate with USAID in the province.
Munyakazi attributed the increase to better seeds and successful education.
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