NAEB moves to ensure sustainable fruits supply

The National Agricultural Exports Promotions Board has started a drive to encourage horticulture farmers to adapt better farming methods and high-yielding varieties to ensure constant supply of fruits and vegetables.Corneille Ntakirutimana, the director in charge of production at NAEB, said production of mangoes, passion fruits, pineapples, bananas, avocados and vegetables is always low because of farmer bias and use of rudimentary farming methods, as well as low-yielding varieties.He said as a result, Rwanda imports a lot of horticultural produce from the neighbouring Kenya, Uganda, Burundi, the DR Congo and Tanzania.“We supplied farmers with high-yielding varieties, which are starting to flower. So, we expect production for most these fruits and vegetables to stabilise in the near future,” he said. Ntakirutimana, however, blamed farmers for periodic shortages, saying they were not properly maintaining the existing crops. “Most farmers still believe that it’s only bananas, beans and tomatoes that need regular care. It’s also because of such mindset that we still have mostly the small local mangoes on the market, which can’t compete with the imported fresh ones.” He said NAEB is carrying out awareness campaigns, helping farmers to make organic fertilisers and supplying modern seedlings to change people’s mindset, as well as boost production. The board is also encouraging farmers to adapt mechanised agriculture to ensure sustainable crop production, Ntakirutimana said. “We are confident that the new approach will enhance output and, ultimately, increase our export capacity from the current $20m to about $225m by 2017.” Prices for most fruits and vegetables were, until last month, very high, with mangoes going for Rwf4,000 a kilo at one time in Kigali and passion fruits Rwf2,500.Amb. George William Kayonga, the new NAEB boss has promised to expand Rwanda’s export base to boost volumes and foreign exchange receipts.“I promise to deliver on the noble mandate of growing the agro-exports sector. I will assess every situation keenly and work with the team here to deliver our targets,” he said while receiving tools of office on Monday.

News

NAEB moves to ensure sustainable fruits supply