Author: Elina Jonas Ruzindaza

The grant was delivered on August 28, 2020, to help farmers get the current crop growth season 2020 C in full swing.

Yara’s representative in Rwanda, Peter Ngugi, said they would help farmers to ensure that at least the growing season ends when they have planted as planned.

“Today the world economy is in turmoil yet agriculture is the source of livelihood. When neglected we end up starving. In this regard, we have provided these additives to make it easier for maize and rice farmers to cultivate on time. ”

Dr. Karangwa Patrick, Director of the RAB said the grant was made at the right time.
“It’s great support that Yara has given farmers. We’re very grateful to them for supporting the maize and rice farmers,” he said.

Some representatives of the farmers’ cooperatives who attended the event told IGIHE that they were very happy with the support provided.

Kayitesi Francine, the head of the COMSS Cooperative in Kicukiro District, who had a smile on her face, thanked Yara for their support as they coped with the effects of Coronavirus.

These cooperative leaders also say that many farmers have already realized the importance of using industrial fertilizers.

Murwabashyaka Simon, a member of the KORIKA Rice Cooperative in Gasabo District, said that 95% of their cooperatives have already learned about the importance of industrial fertilizers.

“Before, there were those who thought it was a waste of money for them. They have come to realize the difference now.”

Statistics show that in Rwanda about 70% of the population is engaged in subsistence farming. This suggests that disrupted agriculture could have a serious impact on the country’s food security.

The minister said the death, reported Friday, was an 81-year-old woman.

On August 28, 2020, 70 people were diagnosed with COVID-19 caused by Coronavirus out of 5,159 tests taken, bringing the total number of infected to 3,742 while three have recovered bringing the total number of recoveries to 1866.

The number of new cases in the City of Kigali was 54, seven in Rusizi, three in Nyamasheke, three in Rubavu, two in Kirehe, and one in Musanze.

Currently, 1,860 are the active COVID-19 patients in the hospital who are receiving day-to-day care.

“The death toll stands at 0.4%, while the rate of infection is 1.4%,” the minister said.

The Minister of Health, Dr. Daniel Ngamije, recently suggested that if no action is taken in the next 30 days, Rwanda could lose about 25 people.

“We have seven patients who are very ill, including a 22-year-old,” he said.

DCF is a non-profit organization offering humanitarian assistance to the needy, the sick, and those facing other serious health problems. The family was founded by Kabanyana C. Keitsia in Rwanda around 2005.

In May 2018, DCF approached 123 farmers from Kamabuye Sector and 139 from Rweru Sector in Bugesera District, helping them set up irrigation, land consolidation, and capacity building, according to DCF Director, Habimana Olivier.

“DCF supports these farmers towards realizing timely and profitable farming,” he says.

Habimana told IGIHE that the organization has received $ 25,000 in funding from the GEF Small Grants Program, a project under the auspices of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP); and Bugesera District with a grant of Rwf15 million.

The two-year project was intended for both Rweru and Kamabuye groups.

According to Laure Kananura, coordinator of the GEF Small Grants Program, the grant was extended to help farmers till their land continuously even during dry periods. The project provided farmers with solar-powered systems. After seeing the productive activities of the farmers, Bugesera District also supported them.

Director of Agriculture and Natural resources of Bugesera District, Jean Damascene Sijyenibo, said they chose to advocate for the DCF because they saw a change.

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Before the DCF’s help, members of the Duterimbere group said they used to do traditional agriculture and was difficult for them because while watering they used watering cans to serve big farm expanses.

A member of this group, Ahishakiye Venantie, said: “We used to use a watering can. Because I am old, I used to water in a small place and go back home. It was very frustrating and the yield was low. ”

Duterimbere Director Musabyimana Peninah also said that watering was difficult at first but now they have been provided with DCF technology to make it easier.

He also commended the Bugesera District administration for increasing its energy efficiency. “When we started working with DCF we used to grow on four hectares and now we have grown to 14 hectares,” he said.

The farmers testify that the return on investment per unit area has tremendously increased.

Emmanuel Uwimpuhwe, a member of this group, said: “Before we used to earn about Rwf100,000 from agriculture but now it is Rwf500, 000 and without difficulty.”

Kananura finds that the fact that Bugesera District is pleased with what DCF has done in collaboration with GEF SGP / UNDP and its commitment to expand the project, is a matter of great pride. He finds that this partnership is important for the development of the community.

The DCF is also involved in other charitable activities such as paying health insurance for the needy where it has paid more than 10,000 since 2005, helping school dropouts to return to school, providing hygiene items to teenagers, among others.

Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Bonaventure Twizere Karekezi, the Police spokesperson for the Western region, said that the smugglers had 12 bales and 497 kilograms of second-hand clothes, 357 kilograms of used shoes and assorted liquors and energy drinks.

Others include eight sacks full of banned polythene bags as well as 321 pieces of varied types of banned skin bleaching lotions.

CIP Karekezi said that the suspected smugglers were intercepted at about 5:30 AM at a porous border shortly after crossing into Rwanda through in Murambi Village, Buhaza Cell of Rubavu Sector.

The goods were being sneaked into the country from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), he said.

“The suspected smugglers were cut-off just after crossing into Rwanda, by members of security organs, who were patrolling the area and seized the 28 big sacks of goods,” CIP Karekezi added.

This came a day after the Rwanda National Police (RNP) Revenue Protection Unit (RPU) also seized other three sacks of skin bleaching lotions and one sack second-hand clothes, from smugglers, who had attempted to sneak them into the country through Lake Kivu.

CIP Karekezi said that most of the people intercepted in Rubavu smuggling goods are not the rightful owners but rather hired.

He warned against such acts of fraud, through which illegal goods such as non-biodegradable plastic bags and skin whitening lotions, oils and soaps are also brought on the Rwandan market.

“Police works with other security organs, fishing cooperatives, and the public to get information on the smugglers, which facilitates such successful operations,” the spokesperson said.

Under the East African Community Management Act, which is applicable in Rwanda, seized smuggled goods under article 199, are auctioned.

In article 12, a retailer of plastic carry bags and single-use plastic items is liable to an administrative fine of Rwf300, 000 and dispossession of those plastic carry bags and such items.

On the other hand, cream and oil brands with hydroquinone and mercury, are prohibited in Rwanda under the ministerial order determining the list of cosmetics, whose use is prohibited in Rwanda; the law on organization, functioning, and competence of the Council of Pharmacists; and the law relating to the regulation and inspection of food and pharmaceutical products.

There are 1,342 listed skin bleaching products banned in Rwanda.

Minister Shyaka said on Thursday that one of the reasons why the country was unable to control the COVID-19 pandemic was that among instructions given, was closing bars but some instead of closing relocated to others places.

He said last month local authorities working with the police found gaps in complying with the regulations.

“In that month alone, we caught 3,500 bars, found 13,000 people in them, that is in just four weeks. That number is very high. ”

“So you find what used to be a bar is called a restaurant, and then you find that the bars have increased. So the disobedience to the rules is causing escalation of spread of COVID 19.”