Kayonza, Rwanda, A group of 26 innovative farmers in Rukoyoyo village are showing that the way to become rich from farming is not to buy expensive chemical fertilizers but rather to use a natural resource, the common earthworm. The farmers are creating a liquid fertilizer called "Liquid Gold" from their own household waste, changing how they grow food using sustainable agriculture.
This method was part of an agricultural training program called the Kayonza Irrigation and Integrated Watershed Management Project-second phase (KIIWP2). before to the training, the farmers produced compost using a traditional method called "heap compost," which took 3-4 months to produce, but required chemical fertilizer in addition to compost.
The KWIIP 2 training helped the farmers learn how to use their food scraps, crop residue, ash and worm castings to produce compost (vermicompost) in 2 months with minimal or no use of chemical fertilizers). The Rukoyoyo farmers produce "Verm wash," or liquid organic fertilizer, from the same system as vermicompost. The farmers average 7 litres per week, which they sell for 1,500 Rfw per litre, resulting in about 30,000 Rfw in sales each week. Vermiwash is reported to have improved crop yields, weed control, disease resistance and reduced the need for chemical fertilisers.
According to Kaberuka Gilbert, the Farmer Facilitator Group's president, "We have had our training opportune for us and now we can develop reliable income sources using waste and improve our soils at the same time."
By increasing their production and sharing their expertise with other farmers, the Farmer Facilitator Group intends to expand the knowledge and resources available to support their sustainable agriculture. The initiative has been bolstered by the support of the Government of Rwanda through the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources, the Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board, and the IFAD.
The composting facilities in Rukoyoyo demonstrate how local resources and practical skills can be used to increase income, increase productivity and promote sustainability through simple solutions and minimal infrastructure. They also show how scalable, profitable and environmentally sustainable agriculture is possible in rural districts of Rwanda.
Written by : Jean Bernard MUKUNDENTE
