RWAMAGANA - Inmates at Nsinda prison in Rwamagana district, Eastern Province, last week planted over 3000 avocado trees.

Mary Gahonzire, the Director of Prisons, who led the tree planting exercise at the prison’s farm, stressed the importance of planting agro forest trees. 

"We have a long term plan for tree planting. This will in the near future be supported by a multipurpose process factory,” she said. "We intend to produce other by-products from the avocados,” she said. 

Francois Muhizi of the Rwanda Agricultural Development Agency (RADA), said the type of trees which were planted take one and half years to bear fruit and market is available.

"Each avocado costs 4 dollars on international markets. A tree can bear about 93 kgs in a year, this indicates how profitable the trees are,” he said. 

According to the director of Nsinda prison, Pelly Uwera, the prison has also embarked on livestock farming, rearing Friesian cows and high breed goats. 

"We are in the process of making this prison productive for the benefit of the whole society,” she said. 

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