farmer |
Efforts geared at
strengthening modern farming and helping spur crop production to ensure
food security have been boosted by deployment of fresh agriculture
university graduates in different parts of the country to support
farmers.
The volunteer extension workers are expected to equip sector
players with the right agronomic skills and knowledge to improve crop
production, according to the State Minister for Agriculture, Fulgence
Nsengiyumva.
Nsengiyumva
revealed this after launching planting Season A in Southern Province on
Friday, adding that the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources
will deploy the young professionals as extension workers under a
volunteer programme.
The minister told
Business Times that the initiative aims at engaging youth in agriculture
to ensure its transformation and boost output, help reduce post-harvest
losses while also easing the unemployment rate among the youth.
The group will work
with farmer cooperatives, training members in the best agronomic
practices such as application of fertilisers, using pesticides, proper
time for planting, as well as weeding and other farming techniques aimed
at increasing agriculture productivity.
"Besides
complementing other agricultural experts in the field such as
agronomists and researchers, the young graduates will be able to enhance
their skills and get motivated to engage in agri-business," he said.
The initiative
kicked off last month and was officially flagged off during the official
launch of Season A activities in Ruhango District.
According to the
minister, 60 fresh graduates are working with Irish potato farmers, 30
young professional are with vegetable growers in Kigali marshlands,
while 300 others are supporting rice farmers in different marshlands
across the country, and 60 graduates are supporting cassava farmers in
Ruhango. More will be sent to districts with emphasis on the dominant
crops.
"We do not have
enough agronomists who can reach every farmer. Therefore, the fresh
graduates, who will be working in their respective sectors and cells of
origin, will fill this gap," he said.
How to join
All fresh graduates
interested in agricultural extension activities can register with the
youth forum. The volunteers are facilitated in their daily activities
with a few incentives.
"It is also an
opportunity for them to market their skills which can enable them get
permanent jobs with the ministry or elsewhere or even create their own
jobs," the minister added.
Making agriculture youth-centric
The officials said
it is important for the youth to join the agriculture sector to
reactivate it and make it more productive. The demographic structure of
Rwanda is characterised by a youthful population, the majority of which
are aged between 16-30 years (28 per cent). However, the average age of
farmers in Rwanda is 55 years old, something the ministry is looking to
change.
Reducing the ageing
farmer population in agriculture sector is central to promoting
sustainable production and a higher level of food security, the ministry
officials said, adding that the ministry facilitated the formation of
the Rwanda Youth in Agribusiness Forum (RYAF).
Each year, over 300,000 Rwandan youth enter the country's labour markets, according to official figures.
Targeting better yields
Minister
Nsengiyumva said farmers are still harvesting little yields considering
the needed potential yields per hectare. "Some farmers still harvest
eight tonnes of cassava per one hectare, but others are able to harvest
up to 30 tonnes from similar size of land. So, we are optimistic that
the young professionals will be instrumental in efforts toward improving
agronomic practices to ensure optimal yields per hectare," he said.
Figures show that
the current average rice yields stand at between three and five tonnes
per hectare while the potential yield is eight tonnes an hectare.
The produce of
Irish potatoes per hectare is 25 tonnes, but this could go up to 40
tonnes if the recommended agronomical practices are adapted. Maize
output stands at 3.5 tonnes against six tonnes of potential yields per
hectare, while for bananas it is currently eight tonnes while the
potential output is 28 tonnes per hectare.
"Farmers also need
financial support, guidance on best agronomic practices, fertilisers and
pesticides, as well as how to use them, and the best time for planting
and harvesting," Faustin Twagirayeze, a farmer in Nyagatare District
said.
He said he applies
40 tonnes of manure in his banana plantation every 12 months, and
ensures proper care for the crop "which is not done by most of farmers".
"Most farmers
harvest eight tonnes per hectare per season, but I harvest 30 tonnes per
hectare. If farmers get the right skills and knowledge, they will use
it to increase crop productivity. However, it is not easy for farmers to
get support from agronomists because they are few," he said, adding
that the new initiative by the ministry could help address the challenge
and spur the sector's growth.
Rwanda's vision for
agricultural transformation and development goals are geared at
ensuring food security and fighting poverty and enabling the country to
attain $1,240 per capita income by 2020. Agriculture transformation has
been identified as one of the major pillars of the country's Vision
2020. The country targets annual growth rate of 8.5 per cent for the
agricultural sector, which grew only at 5 per cent in 2015/16. The
sector employs over 72 per cent of the Rwandan population.
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