On Tuesday, October 29, 2024, a team from the European Union’s Rwanda Delegation visited cassava farmers in Gisagara District, Gikongo Sector, Gikonko Cell, Gahabwa Village. The visit aimed to assess how farmers in the district are adopting Zai Pit technology, implemented through the Gwiza-Muhinzi Project, which is funded by the European Union.
Upon their arrival, the team was welcomed by Mr. James Gatongore, the Executive Secretary of Gikonko Sector, along with staff from the Ingabo Farmers’ Syndicate and a large group of farmers from various cells in the sector.
After joining farmers in planting cassava cuttings using the Zai Pit technique, representatives from the European Union-Rwanda Delegation praised the farmers for their commitment, hard work, and readiness to implement this innovative technology to improve cassava production.
They encouraged the farmers to maintain their enthusiasm, use improved seeds, and approach farming professionally to increase yields for both household consumption and the local and international markets.
This sentiment was echoed by Mr. Juvenal Turatsinze, Advisor at the European Union-Rwanda Delegation, who urged the farmers to think ambitiously and to promote the cassava value chain in Gikonko Sector—from seed multiplication to the export of the final product.
The Executive Secretary of Gikonko Sector expressed gratitude to the European Union for its support in enhancing cassava production, as well as to the Ingabo Farmers’ Syndicate for its advocacy on behalf of the farmers.