By Nneka Nwogwugwu
The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) has predicted a drier than usual season for the October-December period for much of the East African region.
AGRA seeks to transform African agriculture from subsistence to strong business that improves the livelihoods of the continent’s farmers.
The Ministry of Agriculture has encouraged farmers in parts of Rwanda most likely to be affected to take appropriate measures to harvest enough rainwater for irrigation in case of need.
According to the Ministry, depending on present seasonal forecasts for the months of September to December 2021, in parts of the Southern Province and the districts of Bugesera, Kirehe, and Ngoma in the Eastern Province it is expected that rainfall will decrease compared to the amounts usually received in agricultural season A.
Farmers in these regions of the country are encouraged to cultivate plants that grow faster and also put much emphasis on tapping and storing rainwater which will be used when the rains are not enough, reads part of a related Ministry advisory to farmers during the ongoing agricultural season A.
Season A starts in September every year with planting of crops like maize, beans, cassava, Irish potatoes, and ends in February.
Farmers who talked to The New Times agree that the collection and storage of rain, rather than allowing it to run off, if well done, could help but they are also concerned because harvesting rainwater is no easy thing.
Kellen Busingye, a member of a maize-growing cooperative in Nyagatare District on Monday, October 11, said they can only try to plan for it in the near future.
She said: “The rains have started but it [hervesting rainwater] is very difficult and we haven’t done it before. Doing something you have not budgeted for is not easy. You cannot just implement it there and then. Tapping rainwater is expensive; you need resources for that. One has to plan and prepare for such things. We shall, perhaps, plan for it another time.”
Busingye said the 38 farmers in her cooperative have, all together, up to 30 hectares now ready for maize planting.