RDF supports Rwandan farmers during Army Week 2017

Men and women of Rwanda Defence Forces (RDF) are supporting Rwandan farmers in different farming activities across the country during this year’s Army Week. The 2-month campaign, which is running from May 04 to July 04, 2017, put farming activities on top of the agenda, among other activities.

In agriculture sector, Army Week 2017 is focusing on land preparation for next season; planting of vegetables, sweet potato, cassava cuttings and irish potato; banana rehabilitation, fall armyworm fighting, small scale irrigation, composting and weeding among others.

In Eastern Province, for instance, most of the districts will prepare 3,111 ha of land and plant vegetables like French beans; onions; egg plants; tomato; green pepper; carrots and cabbage; and fruits such as watermelon. Unexploited land will also be used to grow sweet potatoes. Other areas of the province will focus on rehabilitating 769 ha of banana plantation in Gatsibo: Rwamagana and Kirehe districts.

Farmers in south will concentrate on planting different vegetables such as French beans, onions, eggplants, tomatoes, carrots, beterave; cabbage; and fruits like watermelon; and sweet potatoes, irish potatoes, cassava, beans, maize, rice, soya, and banana rehabilitation. All these activities will be carried out on 4,327 ha in Southern Province.

In north, farmers together with RDF soldiers are irrigating crops such as beans, maize, vegetables, soya and irish potatoes on 5,403ha. Thanks to army week, farmers are also expected to plant sweet potatoes on 307ha; vegetables on 522ha; and keep fighting fall armyworms on 2,500ha; soil erosion control on 45ha; and banana rehabilitation on 2,000ha. An estimated 571 cowsheds for Girinka beneficiaries in Burera district will also be renovated.

In West, different crops such as Amaranths, Betteraves, cabbages, carrots, eggplants, onions, tomato, French beans, irish potatoes, sweet poatoes, cassava and soya will be planted on 2,484Ha thanks to army week support.

Speaking during the Army Week launch in Rutsiro District on May 04, 2017, Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources, Dr Gerardine Mukeshimana commended the RDF for their contribution in taking Rwanda’s agriculture sector to the next level. In the district, the event was launched by rehabilitating Bitenga wetland located in Ruhango and Murunda sectors. The wetland is reserved for growing irish potatoes on 69ha.

Lt. Gen. Fred Ibingira, the Reserve Force Commander who was also in Rutsiro, said that a variety of activities to be carried out during the army week makes part of the 23rd Liberation Day Celebration. Lt Gen. Ibingira added that RDF is involved in these socio-economic activities since the sustainability of the national security goes hand in hand with transforming lives of citizens.

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