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Lack of inputs suppressed food production in last season B

Friday October 30 2020
farm

In adequate use of farm inputs like fertiliser has been blamed for a decrease in food production. PHOTO | Cyril Ndegeya

By LEONCE MUVUNYI

Production of rice, Irish potatoes and beans has dropped in the last farming season due to the low use of improved agro-inputs.

However, production of potatoes and banana increased, according to the latest government’s Seasonal Agricultural Survey Report.

The survey from the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda paints a grim picture on various long-life staple foodstuffs.

According to the survey, the total cultivated area has dropped to 1,196,782 hectares in the last season from 1,204,057 hectares cultivated in season B of 2019.

The survey noted that during season B, 2020 the crops like sweet potatoes, which were cultivated on 84,545ha, the area that presents an increase of four per cent in year-on-year, has productivity of 611,425 metric tonnes, which presents an increase of 12 per cent, with an average yield being 7,232kg/ha.

Cassava production has also increased to 192,156ha, an increase of two per cent compared to 2019 season B, the production reached 701,037 metric tonnes, an increase of six per cent compared to 2019 season B, as the average cassava yield calculated at 15,073kg/ha.

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However, the production losses have widened on the various staple crops. According to the report, while the beans cultivated in the area increased by 0.4 per cent to 283,104ha compared to 2019 season B, the production of the beans has dropped to 209,383 metric tonnes, a decrease of nine per cent.

“Many farmers have lost interest in irish potato farming since the 2018 saga, where many farmers have lost a fortune despite the production being good,” Joseph Gafaranga, secretary-general of the farmers’ Federation Imbaraga, told Rwanda Today.

According to the survey, the average yield of Irish potato was recorded at 8,019 kilogrammes per hectare.

On the paddy rice farming, which also recorded a widening production loss in last season was cultivated on 15,077 hectares, a considerable decrease of 17 per cent compared to 2019 season B.

The recorded paddy rice production was 64,279 metric tonnes, with a decrease of 11 per cent from 2019 season B, with the average paddy rice yield being 4,264kg/ha.

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