MODERN FARMING TRIPLES CROP YIELDS

Some professional farmers in Nyabihu District say that adopting modern farming practices has significantly increased their harvests, with some reporting that their yields have tripled compared to when they used traditional farming methods.

Kabera Pierre Célestin, an irish potato farmer from Basumba Cell in Bigogwe Sector, said that he previously farmed using traditional methods on a small piece of land and harvested only modest yields.

He explained that after receiving training in professional farming and following the guidance of agricultural extension officers, his production increased considerably.

He said, “Since I started practicing modern farming by using organic manure, chemical fertilizer, and pesticides, and applying everything at the right time, I now harvest more than three tons of potatoes from land where I used to harvest only one ton.”

Kabera believes that modern agriculture is the foundation of farmers' development and encourages fellow farmers to embrace it in order to increase production and improve their livelihoods.

He said, “I encourage all farmers to adopt modern farming because it is the source of sustainable development.”

However, he noted that farmers still face challenges, including rising prices of agricultural inputs such as fertilizers and pesticides, as well as declining market prices for their produce.

He believes that cooperation among different stakeholders is needed to address these challenges so that agricultural activities can continue to deliver satisfactory yields.

Nyabihu District is one of Rwanda's districts where agriculture is the backbone of the economy. Farmers cultivate a variety of crops, including cash crops, food crops, vegetables, and fruits. The growing adoption of modern farming practices by many farmers is increasingly being viewed as a major step toward boosting agricultural production and improving household incomes and the country's economy.