Rice farmers in Kirumburi swamp in Nyagatare district have appealed to government to offer them machinery to speed up rice processing.Antony Bizimana, a representative of one of the rice cooperatives, said farmers were moving fast in embracing modern rice growing.“We are new in rice growing business. Some of us started with scepticism, until we realised the benefits. We, however, lack enough machinery to operate with,” he said.The appeal was made during a meeting between farmers and the Minister of Agriculture and Animal husbandry, Dr. Agnes Kalibata, on Thursday.In 2010, the government invested $13m in the development of Kirimburi valley for rice farming.Consequently, the new project saw some Nyagatare farmers, previously cattle keepers switch to modern crop growing.Kalibata advised farmers to work hard for their benefit and that of the country.“What we have seen today is promising, but farmers need to increase production in order to earn more money,” she said.
