Farmers Ngoma district of the eastern province were encouraged to choose agriculture mechanization for increased and quality products within a short time.
Tony Nsanganira, the minister of state in- charge of Agriculture made remarks on July 29, while officially launching the mechanization week in Mugesera sector, Ngoma district of the eastern province.
Nsanganira told residents of Mugesera sector that mechanization falls under a wide national program to promote the agricultural sector that currently contributes over 30 % to the country’s economic growth.
He also reminded them of how most production sectors depend on agricultural products, a reason why its modernisation is so important.
Mugesera is working in collaboration with the Ministry of Education through WDA to have many farmers trained in using different agricultural machines.
Like most residents, Filbert Mugiraneza expressed how hiring or buying agricultural machines would not be easy. Through collaboration with different partners like Voluntous Agricon Pvt Ltd is based in Kigali, the Ministry of Agriculture plans to avail machines to farmers for hiring where payments can be made after selling their harvest.
Voluntous is an Indian construction and engineering company also engaged in Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing.
Training in Agriculture mechanization has already been introduced in some of the TVET schools and community outreach schedules will be made to pass on skills to many farmers. Such schools include Gishari Integrated Polytechnic and IPRC South.
Under the strategic plan for the transformation of Agriculture in Rwanda Phase III (2013), intensification and commercialization of the agricultural sector is regarded important in reducing poverty and drive growth over the next five years.
It is also stated that the new Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy (EDPRS II) gives priority to rural development and embraces this sector as a source of jobs and economic transformation.