GISAGARA - Over 20 legislators from the Lower Chamber of Deputies, on Saturday, joined residents of Muganza Sector in community work (Umuganda) where they planted over 3000 disease-resistant banana plants.

Led by Jean Damascene Ntawukuriryayo, the Vice President of Parliament, the MPs along with residents planted the banana suckers on a consolidated stretch of land in Rwinkuba village.

The planting will serve as a pilot project for the improved banana variety, which has been tried, recording great success in the Eastern Province district of Kirehe.

Gisagara District has high potential to produce bananas, but has of late been hit by a banana wilt that has rendered the production of the crop less lucrative.

According to experts, the improved plant is capable of resisting diseases and has the capacity to produce banana bunches weighing up to 150kilograms.

In a meeting held after Umuganda, local residents were urged to embrace family planning and to develop a saving culture.

Ntawukuriryayo told residents of Muganza to produce children that they can provide for; adding that a growing population that is not in tandem with the growth of the economy is a danger that has to be addressed.

"Population control is an issue that we all have to face head-on, we encourage dialogue between couples so that they can agree on producing children they can provide for,” he said.

Meanwhile, as Rwanda joined the rest of the World to mark Savings Day, on the same day, Fidele Ndayisaba, the provincial Governor reminded residents to develop a savings culture.

"Saving does not mean that you have an excess,” he said, calling upon residents to join the Sector Saving scheme- Umurenge Sacco to fight poverty.

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