The Rwanda Development Organisation (RDO) through its Hinga Weze project in collaboration with Bugesera District on Wednesday launched the agricultural Season 2021A at Rugandara irrigation site in Nyarugenge sector, Bugesera.
The launch attended by Hinga Weze project under RDO, officials from Bugesera District, Rwanda Agriculture Board (RAB) and other partners planted beans high in iron at an irrigation site operated by a cooperative near Lake Cyohoha.
The site of the launch activity was at Rugandara irrigation site that is supported by Hinga Weze project and cultivated by Terimbere Muhinzi Cooperative in Murambi, Nyarugenge Sector.
The ten hectare Rugandara irrigation site launched the agricultural season by planting beans high in iron as a demonstration that the cooperative is shifting focus to high nutrient and high productivity crop.
Madamu Angelique Umwali, the Vice Mayor in-charge of economic development in Bugesera District encouraged farmers to utilize the irrigation facility built by Hinga Weze project to increase their agricultural productivity.
The vice mayor revealed that a massive investment of over 60 million francs was been made to install the irrigation scheme at Rugandara site so that farmers can irrigate their crops all year around and increase productivity.
She told farmers at Rungandara site to mobilize their fellow farmers about the planting season that was launched, so that no one misses the opportunity to plant on time for high yields.
David Kiza, the project manager at RDO overseeing agricultural projects in Bugesera underlined that the cooperative managing the site was selected to plant beans high in iron and will also become multipliers because they have been given good seeds and all required inputs with the supervision of experts from the project.
Kiza advised the farmers on how to improve their agricultural ventures and applauded how Terimbere Muhinzi Cooperative was undertaking to improve agriculture at the site.
He informed farmers that they stand to earn more than three-fold with the new bean variety they had been given to plant.
Augustine Manibaho, a farmer and member of the cooperative is very optimistic with the new bean variety and becoming a multiplier of beans.
Manibaho notes that he joined the cooperative six months ago and is already earning from the site. He says that the previous harvest was good because of the irrigating his crops and plans to increase his cultivable land every time he can get an opportunity.
Kiza explained that starting this season, RDO has embarked on a new approach to support farmers putting focus on consolidated land sites where farmers are provided with practical skills through demonstration plots and ensure they can ripe high yields.
