The visiting World Bank Senior Vice President of External Communications and UN affairs, Marwan Muasher has urged rice farmers in Bugesera District to increase production. The rice project in the district is supported by the World Bank under the Rural Sector Support Project (RSSP). The project uses clean water in the growing of rice in wetlands of Rwabikwano. “What we a have seen today is promising but farmers need to increase production in order to produce more out-put so that they can even export to neighboring countries,” Muasher said. Muasher also added that he was very impressed with the work done by the farmers. The World Bank official was accompanied by the Minister of State for Agriculture, Agnes Kalibata who urged farmers to maximize production to earn more profits. In the bid to eradicate poverty, this project has earned farmers enough income which helps them suppourt their day to day necessities which include medical bills and school fees. Members of the rice cooperative that converges the farmers, expressed concern on transporting challenges. They also said that the machine used during the harvest can only handle half the output. The rest is processed manually which makes them sell half of the produce at low prices. The cooperative started with 3 tonnes per hectare and is now producing 8 tonnes per hectare Joy Dusabe the coordinator of RSSP also promised the cooperative full support. RSSP is a strategy introduced by the government to fight poverty in connection with the Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy (EDPRS). It is the biggest World Bank funded project in Rwanda and covers the whole country. Ends
