Agric program increases country’s output

KIGALI - The Crop Intensification Programme (CIP), a new method chosen to ensure a revolution in the agricultural sector, has distinguished itself as the best move against food insecurity. This was revealed in a newly released report by the Rwanda Agriculture Development Authority (RADA) which highlighted the sector’s performance for 2009. According to the report, some crops more than doubled their output in 2009. Maize registered an output of 286,948 metric tonnes compared to 166,853 in 2008, an increase of 63.2 percent. According to officials, this output excludes the extra part of 2009 season C whose report is yet to be released. The report states that another impressive result was cassava production which increased by 54.6 percent. Among other selected crops, wheat recorded 72,478 metric tonnes this year up from 67,868 the previous year while production of Irish potatoes rose from 1,161,943 metric tonnes to 1,289,622 metric tonnes this year. Rice recorded an annual output of 95,105 tonnes in 2009 against the previous record of 82,024 tonnes. According to officials from Ministry of Agriculture, this new programme was initiated in August 2007 with the specific objective of boosting agricultural production and ensuring food security by embarking on production of key staple crops in specific areas. CIP also benefited much from other inputs like fertilizers, improved seeds and land consolidation programme, all initiated to prevent the country from depending on imported food crops. Ends

National

Agric program increases country’s output