Skip to main content
Rice farmers urged to complement fertilizers with micronutrients to boost production
By Théogène NSENGIMANA



Rice farmers and RAB staff inspect a treatment plot in Rugeramigozi  marshland
Rice farmers have been urged to add micronutrients to fertilizers and other agrochemicals to boost production.
 Athanase Rusanganwa, the coordinator of Support to Research on Fertilizer Recommendations (SRFR) project aimed to improve fertilizer recommendations for the crop intensification program (CIP) priority crops said farmers should complement fertilizers to ensure they exploit maximally potential yield of seeds.

“for seeds to bring a good yield around 16 nutrients are needed. Yet, you cannot find all of those nutrients at once in a plantation, which means that we need to add those nutrients to make sure that we feed our crops with all needed elements”, Rusanganwa said yesterday during the rice farmer field day in Rugeramigozi marshland, Muhanga district.

 The occasion was used to show to farmers the differences between crops fed with fertilizers complemented with nutrients and those fed with only fertilizers in a demonstrating plantation within the marshland.

The only fertilizers commonly used are the NPK 171717, urea, Diammonium phosphate (DAP) complemented with organic manure.


A test conducted in this marshland on a variety that has a potential yield of 10 tons per hectare revealed that with the use of nutrients like zinc, boron, copper, briquettes, granular, sulphur and others; the production in the marshland can shift from the current three tons per hectare to over five tons.

The most needed micronutrients include calcium, magnesium and sulphur while others are needed in lower rate like iron, manganese, copper, boron, molybdenum and chlorine


Jacqueline Uwizeyemariya, a rice farmer in the marshland and member of KIABR cooperative (koperative imparaniramusaruro zábahinzi ba Rugeramigozi)   said the use of  nutrients would not only help them increase produce but would also help them to grow financially.

She said “I have realized that there are ways to increase the low produce we are getting. Once production is increased, I hope I will be able to save money which will help me develop”.

According to the study conducted in 2014 by the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI) in partnership with International Fertiliser Development Centre (IFDC)  in 4000 fields revealed that micronutrients can help increase agriculture productivity at between 20 and 30 per cent in case used together with fertilizers


The study also revealed that with application of micronutrients  the then average Irish potatoes yield estimated at 22 tonnes per hectare, could increase up to 40 tons while maize yield could raise from 3.8 tons a hectare to 6.5 tons, wheat yield from 2.3 tons to 4 tons per hectare while rice could shift from five to eight tons per hectare. 




 



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Improving Rwandan lives, One village at a time

Post a Comment
Read more

No enemy of our neighbours will operate on Rwandan soil – Kagame

  Anyone who wants to destabilise Rwanda’s neighbours will never be allowed to operate in Rwanda, President Paul Kagame has said. He made the remarks in Rusizi District on August 26 while addressing over 400 opinion leaders from Western Province where he also spoke at length about security issues and development. Security remains our top priority because if there is no security nothing can be done, he said. "The way we want to live in harmony in our country is the same way we want to get along with our neighbours...so that everyone can be safe and able to do what they want to do,” he said. Kagame has since on Thursday been  on a four-day tour  in Western and Southern provinces where he met residents, opinion leaders, and toured different development projects. "I want to add that Rwandans, be it those who live here in Rusizi and all those who live along other border areas; it is important that we find ways to live well with our neighbours. There will not be anyone who want...
Post a Comment
Read more

Diaspora Rwandans call for laws punishing genocide denial abroad

Rosine Mugunga, a member of the Rwandan community in Italy, contributes to a discussion on the fight against Genocide denial and minimisation between members of the Senate and Diaspora at the Parliamentary Buildings, while other delegates look on, in Kigali on Monday. Representatives of the Rwandan Diaspora from around the world urged the Senate to step up advocacy for enactment of laws against denial and trivialisation of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in foreign countries. Photo: Emmanuel Kwizera Rwandans living and working abroad have challenged the Senate to push for the enactment of laws punishing denial and minimisation of the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi, globally. They made the appeal on Monday in Kigali during a meeting with the Rwanda Senate. The meeting intended to encourage the Rwandan community abroad to step up efforts against denial or trivialisation of the Genocide, especially outside Rwanda. The request came after a senatorial report released ...
Post a Comment
Read more