Farming Association Started in Nyamagabe
Residents of Karaba village in Karama cell in Cyanika, Nyamagabe District in Rwanda have recently started an association that planted Irish Potatoes on over 3 hectares of land.
These local farmers of Karaba village combined their land in Land Use Consolidation Program to three hectares for large scale production, contributed money to purchase the fertilisers while Cyanika sector administration supported them by giving good quality seeds and the desired advice.
Most of these local residents are poor and could not manage farming at a large scale on individual basis. They then embraced the idea of working in cooperatives, joined funds to manage large scale production.
The Karaba Village headman Mr. Ildephonse Rubashangabo revealed that it was not easy to bring people together and give them one goal to achieve but was finally realized and about 40 families especially the poor and vulnerable have joined the association.
“It took us time to understand the project was for our benefit but now that we understand what to expect, we are excited” says Vénant Nkurikiyumukiza one of the local people in this co-operative.
The Karaba village farmers intend to grow bigger with this project, large scale production will enable them produce for not only domestic consumption, but also for commercial purposes! They are planning to start growing maize and beans alongside Irish potatoes the next season.
