We are helping farmers add value -Uwamariya

Eastern Province like other parts of the country, is working around the clock to realise sustainable development. The Sunday Times’ Stephen Rwembeho talked Governor Odette Uwamariya, who explained a number of the Province’s development programs.How would you like to describe Eastern Province for a stranger?This a province with vast riches, endowed with good climate that favours agriculture and general farming. In fact, it is correctly regarded as the country’s food basket-a province second to none in the production of cereals. Recently, production of maize of 450.000 tons was recorded in this province, the potentials are enormous.The largest water bodies in the country can be traced in this province, Akagera national park and the savannah like pasture grazed by beautiful domestic and wild animals attracts even the remotest tourists across the world.Can you highlight some of the development plans you have for the provinceIn order to remain as the country’s food basket, we plan to intensify the current programs to modernise agriculture. Irrigation and high land mechanisation are some of the new innovations in agriculture to commence. No land will be left redundant! We are promoting small scales industries and helping farmers to add value to their produce. Our farmers are set to start exporting dried fruits and vegetables to Europe and the US. In all these efforts, we intend to end poverty once and for all in our communities.Plans to continue poverty reduction like ‘Girinka Munyarwanda’-One cow per family, VUP (Vision 2020 Umurenge Program) and Ubudehe are at the advanced stages.At least two to three of your Districts have been performing well in the education sector. Where do you attribute such successThere is no doubt that strong partnership among all stakeholders was behind the land mark excellent academic performance in our schools.Increased number of class rooms under the 9 and 12 Year Basic Education program reduced the student-teacher ratio to 1:45. All these coupled with close supervision has lifted our education to remarkable levels.How do you assess Eastern Province’s partnership with the Tanzania, particularly Akagera Region, when it comes to fighting drugs Our approach on drugs will be scientific, so as to achieve long term solutions. We shall educate and sensitise our people on the dangers of the drugs they deal with. Joint operations, meetings and patrols will be conducted. The Memorandum of Understanding, we signed recently, cater for this concern of drugs.What would you do say about fatal domestic violence in your Province? Do you think society’s just too lenient on criminals? What is your position on crimeThe violence has multidimensional causes that can be traced in the turbulent history of our country. It is also caused by economic conflicts amongst couples...land and sex related disputes have been rife in communities.All these are compounded by excessive drinking of alcohol by either women or men, which is why the culprits have not been exclusively men. We have thus in effect started long term campaign against such violence, by mapping out families with recurrent conflicts. Severe punishments will also be meted out to culprits.Society management or leadership is one of the most challenging jobs. What would you say most motivates you to do what you do?What motivates me more is the confidence bestowed in me by the president of the Republic, who delegated me to represent him. His strong and visionary leadership motivates me above all.Naturally, I am a people’s person, like to serve and make impact in other peoples’ lives. I am happy when people I serve are happy.Did you have any key mentors or people who deeply influenced who you are, what you believe in and what you’re committed to in your work and life? Tell me about them.No, I didn’t have any specific mentor, I think what I do is God given. I have a humble character that respects others, and therefore learns from them. Since I was young, I always found myself in leadership positions.Thank you very much for your time todayThank you. My pleasure.