Nyagatare farmers eyeing bumper rice harvest
The year 2013 will see all smiles on faces of Nyagatare farmers as they expect the first plenteous rice production.
In 2010, the government invested Rwf9 billion in the famous Kirimburi valley for rice farming. The new project saw Nyagatare farmers, hitherto cattle nomads switch to the new modern crop growing.
Statistics from agriculture department in Nyagatare district show that since the new project started, the number of farmers who snatched rice plots at Kirimburi Rice scheme has increased as a result of consultative meetings held between the Ministry of agriculture and farmers in the district.
In a mixture of interactions with farmers, many said that they expect abnormal profits from rice production come end of this year.
According to officials from the Ministry of agriculture, the new rice scheme is set to produce 21,000 tonnes of rice annually with a projected annual income of Rwf4.5billion.
Speaking at her demarcated plot in Tabagwe sector, Claudine Mukandoli, one of the beneficiaries of the new project said that signs of profits have so far been realized.
“At first I took the idea as a dream. I’ve been a local cattle farmer for many years and of all this period I have not tested rice growing. But after numerous consultations by officials in the Ministry of agriculture, I adopted the idea and grew rice on a hectare of land. But I can huge profits coming,” said Mukandoli.
Gervais Maniriho, another farmer said that he is optimistic to be part of the projected Rwf4.5illion profit.
“We are pioneers of this project and the harvest is expected to shine as the land is still virgin. And more promising is the technology that was applied here,” he said.
Kirimburi rice scheme was financed by the World Bank and the project will not only generate income to the country, but also provide employment to thousands of residents.
Presently, over 2,000 people are currently working on rice plantation scheme.
“I got employment here as a casual worker last year. I work for Rwf1000 a day and the income has been so helpful to me,” observed Jolie Muberarugo, a mother of three.
The construction works at the rice project was carried out by an Indian firm, SPENCON and supervised by SIMA, a Canadian company.
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