Bugesera farmers upbeat as they start exploiting Gashora marshland

Bugesera farmers hope to boost their economy and improve their welfare following the launch of farming activities in the newly developed Gashora marshland. A total of 1571 farmers exploiting the marshland are from surrounding five sectors namely Gashora, Juru, Rilima, Mayange of Bugesera District, and Rukumberi Sector of Ngoma District.

Gashora marshland, stretching on 750, was developed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI) through its project dubbed Bugesera Natural Region Rural Infrastructure Project (PAIRB). The scheme is dedicated to growing rice and horticulture crops for export.

Rice is being grown on 400 ha by local farmers in partnership with PRODEV Bugesera; a local company that specializes in commercial farming.

These farmers have been trained through farmer field schools (FFS) in modern farming techniques for yield improvement. They are organized into a cooperative named KODUMUGA for production and marketing purposes and water users’ organization named UDUAGIGA for equipment and infrastructure maintenance including collection of water fees.

According to Felicien Mutalikanwa, the chairman of PRODEV, the company will work closely with the farmers by setting up a demonstration farm where the farmers can learn rice farming best practices in a bid to maximize the productivity. The company will also set up a rice plant, installed with capacity to process 120 tons per day, with enough capacity to mill rice harvested by the farmers. The farmers’ cooperative will also be allowed to own some shares of the rice plant.

On the other side of Gashora marshland, PRODEV Bugesera and the National Agriculture Export Development Board (NAEB) are in a process to start a 260-ha joint venture for horticulture crops destined for export.

Farming activities in the marshland were officially launched on March 16, 2017 by Minister of State in charge of agriculture, Fulgence Nsengiyumva, who joined the farmers in weeding rice. During the event, the Minister of State urged the farmers to take advantage of the newly developed marshland to improve living conditions of their families. He also urged them to properly maintain the marshland infrastructure for their own benefits, but also for future generations.

Laurent Hakizimana, the president of the farmers’ cooperative, commended the government for providing them with such farming facilities that will enable them to grow rice to ensure food security in their families, but also boost their economy.

Rice is one of the main staple foods in Rwanda and has been identified as a priority crop by the government; the reason behind investing in marshland development to facilitate citizens to grow it.

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