THE Rusizi district agriculture coordinator, Venuste Nsekalije, is calling on residents to improve coffee farming as a major income earner.

"In the performance contracts, we promised to increase coffee production by over 20 tonnes next year. The preparations have to start now through pruning to ensure good quality product,” said Nsekalije.

He made the call last week, during the launch of the district coffee pruning exercise in Gahungeri cell, Gitambi sector.

The exercise attracted local authorities, army and several farmers, during which over six hectares of coffee farms were pruned.

The district agronomist, Alex Musabyimana, said that the exercise was carried out in all sectors of Rusizi.

John Kabakeye, a representative of OCIR Coffee, advised farmers to give due attention to the early stages of coffee, saying it’s where quality is determined.

"Good, quality coffee starts in the garden,” he said.
Rusizi’s major cash crop is coffee, especially grown in Gitambi sector, where farmers attribute their improved standards of living to the crop.

Many farmers have constructed modern residential houses and a coffee washing station was also established through farmers’ contributions.

Ends