Farmers who do banana farming in Rukira Sector, Ngoma District of Eastern Province testify that their lives have improved significantly thanks steady income they get from banana sales. They are members of Ubumwe Cooperative that counts 437 members growing banana on 2500 ha consolidated land.

Telesphore Nyakarundi, one of the banana farmers, says that steady progress has been recorded since they were introduced to modern farming practices back in 2005.

“When I was trained in modern farming practices, I immediately embarked on putting it into practice and I currently earn at least Frw 600,000 in profit per month,” he said.

The 55-year-old farmer gave his testimony on June 4, 2020 when the Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources, Dr Gerardine Mukeshimana, accompanied by Fred Mufulukye, the Governor of Eastern Province and local officials, were paying a visit to the activities of Ubumwe Cooperative.

“We are now involved into profit-making agriculture. We’ve been able to build decent residential houses, all our members bought cows that provide milk for home consumption and manure to increase productivity of our farms, and we have many more commercial oriented plans,” Nyakarundi told the officials.

The model farmers says that the cooperative also has 34 master trainers that can train fellow farmers in modern banana farming whenever needed.

Minister Mukeshimana directed Ngoma District officials to work hand in hand with Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB) and the cooperative to train other banana farmers across the district in modern farming.

Banana has carried significant importance to Rwanda’s dietary for a long time now. It is one of highly consumed staple crops in the country thanks to its multipurpose uses –culinary and wine brewing.