Farmers urged to embrace improved banana varieties

HUYE - Mukura Sector officials in Huye district have urged farmers in the sector to plant new varieties of banana plants which are more productive and disease resistant. Alexis Munyamfura, the Sector Executive Secretary made the appeal while reacting to comments by farmers that banana production had fallen due to old plantations and the lack of fertilisers. Banana farmers have expressed frustration over the fall in banana production which is attributed to lack of fertilisers. “We have noted with concern a slump in banana production mainly because the soils are not productive, authorities should look into the issue and help find fertilisers for farmers,” said Rachid Kabandana, a resident of Buvumo cell. The Executive Secretary in an interview with The New Times noted that planting the newly introduced banana varieties and applying fertilisers will enhance banana production in the area. “We are doing our best to avail farmers with the improved banana varieties which are on high demand in the province,” he said. Munyanfura revealed that the sector has stocks of fertilisers that will be distributed to farmers in the sector to boost agriculture production. “We have started distributing fertilisers to farmers on credit but many banana farmers are hesitant because they still think that fertilisers are for beans and maize only,” he said. The sector has started a campaign aimed at supporting some local banana farmers that have shown interest in planting bananas so as to act as role models to the rest of the community. Ends