BUGESERA - A  Belgian government delegation yesterday called upon farmers in Nyamata, Bugesera District, to propose development projects that their government can support.

The visit follows the signing of a new development cooperation program between Rwanda and Belgium.

It aims at sampling out the contribution of the bilateral cooperation for social and economic development of Rwanda.

Dirk Achten from the Belgium Ministry of Foreign affairs explained that the delegation wanted to see the effectiveness of the funds given to the projects .

"We saw the large cassava plantation. The farmers now know about the pests that can attack this crop and they were taught how to prevent it.

I am impressed with the projects. The funds are being put to good use,” he said.
One of the trainers at Nyamata, J.Pierre Bugosoro, said that 70 farmers from ten districts are undergoing training at the Farmer’s Field School in Nyamata.

"They are taught improved farming techniques and in turn will train other farmers in their villages about cassava cultivation.

More than 2,000 other farmers were introduced to the improved farming techniques by those who are being trained,” Bugosoro said.
Alex Uwiringiyimana, one of the farmers and trainees said he benefitted and learnt a lot from the training.

"I learnt how to grow cassava the modern way. I now know how to prevent the pests and cure cassava that’s been attacked,” he adds.

Uwiringiyimana is currently teaching 25 other farmers from Nyanza what he learnt from the training.

Over the last three years, the project with a budget Rwf 2 billion, contributed to the increase in agricultural production.
 
A farmer from Dishigikiyamahoro Cooperative, Bernadette Uzamukunda, observed: "In the past, we planted and used a lot of pesticides in vain. Now our farming methods have improved and our lives changed”.

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