Agriculture has become a popular choice for many young people in the countryside of Rwanda. Although it may take time and dedication, agriculture is proving to be a viable option for generating steady income and achieving continued growth. By developing their skills and learning new techniques, youth can view agriculture as an exciting prospect rather than the last resort for achieving economic independence.
In one small village of Eastern Rwanda, farmers are demonstrating how practical skills and shared knowledge can make a common crop into a system of opportunity contrary to the perception that crops have little value. Transformed from a simple training program to a community-based group of farmers working together to earn a living while improving cassava farming practices, these were created by 30 farmers from Byimana village in Nkondo cell.
The journey began with Claude Hafashimana, a community facilitator who received training as part of the Kayonza Irrigation and Integrated Watershed Management Project (Phase II). Rather than keeping the knowledge for himself, he returned home, and his efforts led to the establishment of a farmers’ group known as ABISHYIZEHAMWE Matinza. This 30-member group focuses on improving cassava farming practices to create long-term economic sustainability.
To apply their knowledge into practical use, the group created a model farm that allowed farmers to learn hands-on. One part of the model farm is a demonstration plot that shows farmers the correct way to prepare their land, how to space out their crops correctly, how to manage their crops correctly, and how to convert what they learned into something they can actually see when they grow their crops.
The collaboration with agricultural experts also provided them with access to new cassava varieties that have higher yields and resistance to disease such as PWANI, NSIZE BASHONJE, NAM 130 BURYOHE and MARIE.
Farming as a business
Even though increasing production with new varieties of seeds was a key component for improving productivity, the members said changing their mindset was the greatest change.
They no longer thought of agriculture as subsistence, but they began to look at it as a business.
One of the people who has taken advantage of this is now 25-year-old Manirabizi Leonard. He used to be growing cassava just for food; however, he has now started to grow cassava to sell as a planting material (certified). He created multiple sources of income from the same crop (harvests and cuttings). “The training taught us how to apply what we learned to everyday life,” added Claude. "Cassava is no longer just food to eat; it is now a future for the youth.”
The community's ripple effect
This one training class started a chain reaction that spread throughout the village. As farmers apply what they have learned (from the model plot) on their own farms; changing their planting times, producing more and better crops, and improving their overall crop management. This approach gives us an important rural development lesson: If one farmer is trained, others in that farmer's community will benefit from knowledge.
In light of the continual climate pressures and lack of employment opportunities that affect life in rural communities across Africa, more knowledge driven approaches to farming are demonstrating how to make primary production businesses more productive.
In Byimana village, this change in farming methods happened based on the use of practical skill-sharing and through working together under local leaders, not on expensive equipment/technology or expensive infrastructure.
For the farmers of ABISHYIZEHAMWE Matinza, growing cassava was not simply done out of necessity but has turned into a source of resilience, showing the capability of opportunity to spread even in the most rural areas once knowledge has been shared.
Written By Jean Bernard MUKUNDENTE.
