RAB for new coffee growing practices

New research results on plants that provide symbiotic benefits to coffee growth and yields will soon to be released, according to Rwanda Agriculture Board (RAB).

This will be in line with addressing the challenge of limited land in various parts of the country, where, researchers say, small plots of land and a long coffee gestation period have hindered yields per unit area per season, thus a slow rate of overturning poverty levels. The new research, they urge, will enable farmers practice intercropping and diversify food and incomes sources.

Joseph Bigirimana, a researcher on coffee in RAB, says they have embarked on research of friendly crops that can concurrently grow with coffee after realizing how farmers mix various crops to diversify harvests, yet some of the crops do not grow well alongside the other.

“We have thought of supporting farmers to optimally utilize the small plots of land they do own and therefore sought other crops farmers can grow along with coffee, to do away with unfriendly crops from coffee plantations which sometimes negatively impact yields. One such crop is banana. Research in foreign countries indicates that banana and coffee can be intercropped without affecting yields of the other,” he said adding that instead, they make yields, provide shelter for each other, minimizing the rate of soil water evaporation.

He said that research outcomes on the quality and protection of mixed cropping will be publicized soon.

Theopista Nyiramahoro, a professional coffee grower, says that recommending mixed cropping would bring sustainable solutions to poor harvests and optimum use of land for better harvests.

Talking to IGIHE, she said; “Mixing coffee plant with other crops will diversify incomes and food, skipping the challenge of food insecurity at the same time, for small landholders.”

Based on anticipated research outcomes, Louis Butare, the director general of RAB says the implementation will be a solution for farmers who fail to plant coffee as a result land scarcity.

RAB has however warned farmers against crude intercropping but wait until the research results are thoroughly evaluated and validated.