NORTHERN PROVINCE Musanze District has allocated tonnes of modified seeds of Maracuja, tea, wheat and Irish potatoes to all 16 sectors to be distributed to farmers. The move hopes to increase food production amongst families and specifically creating surpluses able to be sold. The amount of seeds to be given out to the farmers will vary by sector according to need and land size. In a meeting attracting all sector executives and district agriculture engineers, a plan was established on the amount of crops to be grown, along with the size of hectares, the expected production and the amount of fertilizers required. Musanze is one of the highly populated districts in the country, as well as one of the youngest, with 52 per cent of the population below 18 years of age. The growing of Irish potatoes was given priority with over 4250 hectares available to its harvest. Pyrethrum will occupy 402 hectares, and wheat, 1890 hectares. Speaking during the meeting, District Excutive Secreatary, Habiyaremye Oswald asked the local leaders to mobilise farmers to grow both food and cash crops in order to fight poverty and also avoid a possibility of famine in future. Ends
