ACORD Rwanda’s Approach to Sustainable Agriculture for Lasting Yields in Musanze District
The leadership of Musanze District has expressed appreciation for ACORD Rwanda‘s initiative to promote sustainable agriculture and high yields.
This follows the innovative efforts of various farmers in the Gataraga sector, who are using organic fertilizers and agroforestry techniques to cultivate different crops, aiming to conserve soil and forests and improve livelihoods, land, and environmental sustainability.
The project, launched on February 29, 2024, was attended by 38 participants in three categories: the District leadership led by Vice Mayor Uwanyirigira Clarisse, JAF officials, farmers engaged in agroecology under ACORD Rwanda, and beneficiaries of agroecology training in the Muko and Gataraga sectors.
Some farmers are engaged in agriculture to increase productivity, conserve land, and address challenges in their communities. Among them are Mukankusi Josephine from Karurambi village, Murago cell, Gataraga sector, and Munyemanzi Froduard from Rwinzovu village, Murago cell.
These farmers have expressed their commitment to sustainable agriculture by using organic fertilizers and agroforestry techniques to achieve a sustainable yield and improve the health of crops and people, as many diseases are linked to chemical use.
The crops commonly cultivated include vegetables, fruits, and others. Vice Mayor Uwanyirigira Clarisse, in her remarks, stated that this initiative would contribute to reducing the current prevalence rate of stunting to 27%, which should ideally be decreased to at least 11%, as targeted by the NST1 program.
She said, “Before anything else, on behalf of Musanze District, we thank ACORD Rwanda for this project that focuses on providing people with nutritious food, as outlined and implemented, showing that we now have both good land and modern farming techniques, which will yield good results. We thank you for improving people’s lives, their health, land productivity, and environmental sustainability, which will bring good results to our future.”
“We are very grateful to see in your agriculture, including vegetables and fruits, which will help us achieve the target we have set to reduce stunting, supporting our goal in the NST1 program. Let’s continue this trend, and you will help others as you do.”
Jean Marie Vianney, an ACORD Rwanda employee in charge of agriculture and the welfare of small-scale farmers, said that this journey was aimed at increasing productivity and showcasing a high and good yield.
He said, “We have started this project aimed at increasing productivity and showcasing a high and good yield, as well as improving the fertility of the soil by promoting the use of organic fertilizers and agroforestry techniques. It often eliminates some of the diseases that were prevalent in our fields and some pests that were affecting our crops, including weeds.”
“We have come with different partners in agriculture, including the Musanze District leadership, to continue working together to improve our cooperation as we face some of the challenges that affect our lives and the sustainability of our soil, as ACORD Rwanda has in its objectives.”
Those who attended this journey have shown that they will continue to contribute their efforts to support agriculture that has a positive impact on production, land, and sustainable development aimed at ensuring a good harvest and eradicating hunger and food insecurity.
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