WESTERN PROVINCE

NYABIHU — Agriculture Minister Christophe Bazivamo has said that the government will have fully eliminated soil erosion countrywide by the end of next year.

Speaking as chief guest during celebrations to mark the World Food Day, on October 16, at Kabatwa in Nyabihu District, Bazivamo noted that climate changes had in the past affected agricultural activities in many parts of the country which led to food shortages. He however, said the government is now looking at ways to enhance agricultural production.

The day was marked under the theme "World food security; the challenged of climate change.”

"The government through the Ministry of Agriculture is working hard to ensure soil erosion is fully eliminated by the end of 2009. We are also doing our best to support farmers’ cooperatives by providing them with modern fertilisers. We hope this will greatly increase agricultural productivity thus a long term solution to poverty and hunger,” he said.

Bazivamo explained that the celebrations were taken to Kabatwa, reportedly one of the leading Irish producers in the country, to raise people’s awareness about the dangers of hunger and food insecurity.

Elizabeth Balepa, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (F.A.O)’s representative in Rwanda, reaffirmed their commitment to working with the Rwandan Government towards food security and the fight against poverty.

She pointed out that people’s right all over the world can be achieved when all people have enough food-which can be achieved by developing agricultural technology especially in developing countries.

Agricultural development, she said was the major way of reduceing poverty and hunger.

"Hunger and poverty are far too common in many countries around the world. Thus, every year, World Food Day serves as a reminder of the FAO’s enduring quest to provide a long-term solution to these persistent problems. The ultimate goal of this initiative is to promote the concept that access to nutritious food is a fundamental human right and cannot be denied to any individual,” Elizabeth said.

Kabatwa residents asked the government to provide them with power and improved road network to help them get easy access to the market.

As part of the celebrations, F.O.A and the World Bank donated fertilisers, wheelbarrows and other farm tools to various farmers’ associations to help them improve on their production.

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