Nyabihu: Reserve forces unveil 100 hectares of bench terraces in Gishwati
The Rwanda Reserve Forces on January 25 handed over to the Ministry of Agriculture about 100 hectares of radical terraces they made.
The second in command of the Reserve forces Major General Jerome Ngendahimana Jerome while addressing area residents said that the forces made the terraces in efforts to flush out soil erosion that is rampant in the area due to its hilly terrain.
“We are doing this to support agriculture that profitable and capable of elevating the people out of poverty,” said Ngandahimana.
After the handover, it was explained that it is the Ministry that will be in charge of dividing the land for cultivation to the farmers.
On the behalf of MINAGRI Dr. Jean Jacques Mbonigaba hailed the way the terracing was done and thanked the forces for the job well done adding that it was done in the agreed time
He said that the 100 hectares of terraces cost the government 150 million Rwandan francs, while the activity of putting in place the total of 306 hectares in Gishwati has cost a total of 900 million francs.
Residents of Gishwati were urged to protect the terraces from any kind of destruction so that they can benefit them to the maximum.
The programme of developing terraces in this area has benefitted about 4,800 people who generated income from the work of leveling the about 2, 000 hectares now.
About 50 hectares are already being developed while the remaining will be cultivated in the next season.
