Research and Development output to be made public - Sherry Ayittey

Accra, July 15, GNA - Ms Sherry Ayittey, Minister of Environment Science and Technology on Wednesday observed that public universities in Ghana have developed institutional repositories that would make available research and development outputs accessible to the general public.
The Environment Minister said this at the opening ceremony of the second conference of the Africa chapter of the International Association of Agricultural Information Specialists in Accra. It was organised on the theme: "Towards Opening Access to Information and Knowledge in the Agricultural Sciences and Technology in West Africa."
She said the Association of Africa Universities was leading an initiative on the development of full-text-data based of African thesis and dissertations to make information especially agricultural information available to improve food security in Ghana. She said the initiative would also make research output from Ghana and Africa visible to the outside world.
Ms Ayittey said many countries in Africa faced a host of problems such as environmental, health, economic and development problems such as pervading poverty, HIV/AIDS, inadequate portable water and weak economic growth.
"Science and technology if properly harnessed could play a major role in helping Africa to overcome these challenges," she said. Ms Ayittey said research into science and technology increased knowledge acquisition, adding that access to knowledge especially in the fields of agriculture, medicine, environment, climate change and technology could help create stronger social, economic and technical infrastructure that were essential in the development process.
She said science and technology was identified as an essential ingredient in the development process and corroborated a statement from the UNESCO that "assimilation of science and technological information is an essential precondition for progress in the developing countries". Ms Ayittey said access to and assimilation of scientific and technological information would empower people and local experts on the continent to find solutions to local environmental social, economic and developmental issues.
She said government would support policies that invested in basic and applied research to create new incentives for private innovation, promoting breakthrough in energy and medicine and improve education in mathematics and the sciences.
She said government had committed two per cent of the Ghana Educational Trust Fund to assist brilliant, average and needy students of tertiary and second cycle institutions for scholarship schemes for mathematics and science.
Research into science and technology had brought many modern communication technologies such as the Internet and mobile telephones. The Minister said that technology had made it easy to disseminate the content in digital format.
Dr. Monty Jones, Executive Director, Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa and 2004 World Food Laureate, said there should be a local ownership in the attempts to secure food security. According to him it must begin with the political will to develop and implement comprehensive food security strategies based on sound scientific evidence, domestic investment and clear directions. Dr. Jones called for the need for countries to establish information systems for monitoring market performance and measuring market failures.
He said most African countries that were agricultural- based needed agriculture to transform their economy.
Dr. Jones said ICT could transform the agricultural sector of African countries if the actors were ready to promote participatory, collaborative and impact oriented agriculture science and innovation by investing in Information, Communication and Technology (ICT). He said ICT was not just for the scientists but also for actors along the chain such as producers, traders and consumers.

Going bananas for energy in Africa

Bananas provide food, wine and beer - and now maybe fuel as well

By Matt McGrath Science reporter, BBC World Service
You've heard of "green" fuel. Now get ready for yellow as scientists have found a way to turn banana waste into a sustainable fuel source that could be relevant to many countries across Africa.

Rotting banana skins are mashed into a pulp, then mixed with saw dust

The simple, low-tech idea, was developed by researchers at Nottingham University.
They used banana skins to create briquettes that can be burned for cooking, lighting and heating.
It could alleviate the burden of gathering firewood, the dominant energy source in many parts of the continent.
This would help reduce deforestation, which makes a significant contribution to global climate change.

Rotting banana skins are mashed

into a pulp then mixed with saw dust

Go yellow
In some African countries, like Rwanda, bananas are an important and versatile crop, used for food, wine and beer.
But experts estimate that the edible fruit makes up just a small part of what the plant produces.
The banana skins bind other materials together really well, they act like glue
Joel Chaney,

Nottingham University
According to scientists, for every one tonne of bananas, there are an estimated ten tonnes of waste, made up of skins, leaves and stems.
It was on a visit to Rwanda that Joel Chaney, a PhD student from the University of Nottingham came up with the idea of developing a low-tech approach to turn this banana waste into an efficient fuel source.
Back in the laboratory at the University's faculty of engineering, Joel showed me how to make bananas burn.
He first mashes a pile of rotting skins and leaves. This pulp is then mixed with saw dust, compressed and dried to create briquettes that ignite readily and throw out a steady heat, ideal for cooking.
"The banana skins bind other materials together really well, they act like glue," says Mr Chaney.
The banana mixture dries into briquettes which can be burned on a stove
"We can then either form the material into a ball by hand, or use a press to squeeze the materials together and squeeze the liquid out.
"Once we've pressed them we can lay the briquettes outside in the sun, and within about two weeks we have some dried fuel."
The emphasis of the project has been on developing a simple technology that can be used in developing countries without the need for a large financial outlay.
Over the years there have been many attempts to develop new stoves and fuel sources in Africa that have failed because they were too expensive or did not take on board local needs.
These briquettes are made by hand, we haven't used any mechanical equipment at all
Mike Clifford,
Nottingham University
Mike Clifford is associate professor in the department of engineering at Nottingham. Standing around a stove in the laboratory that's using banana briquettes to boil water, he says he is really pleased with the project.
"This is working really well. These briquettes we've made by hand, we haven't used any mechanical equipment at all. No technology and we've had a really good result," he says.
"We're starting from very basic problems and we are making the solutions as simple and accessible as possible to the people that need them.
"It's almost seen as a new colonialism, imposing solutions on people in developing countries, we are very keen not to do that."
Saving firewood
The scientists believe that banana fuel might help reduce dependence on wood as an energy source across Africa.

The briquettes are easily made, no machinery is required
In some of the continent's biggest banana-producing countries like Rwanda, Tanzania and Burundi, more than 80% of current energy needs are met from burning wood.
This has a very damaging impact on the environment leading to deforestation which contributes to climate change. Gathering wood for fuel is also a time consuming job, mainly done by women.
"In some areas wood fuel is getting depleted and you are getting deforestation. Women sometimes have to walk over six hours a day to get firewood," says Joel Chaney.
"This is a way to use waste from crops like bananas, to make them burn in a better way because loose residue most often just burns too rapidly.
"Imagine just putting some straw onto your fire at home. It just goes up in flames, you can't cook food over it, while the briquettes provide a way to cook food in a much better way."
The Nottingham researchers say their low-tech approach is a small step along the way of meeting the millennium goals and helping people out of poverty.
They say that they are happy to give the idea away for free and are encouraging people who want to use the idea to get in touch.

Going bananas for energy in Africa

Bananas provide food, wine and beer - and now maybe fuel as well
By Matt McGrath Science reporter, BBC World Service
You've heard of "green" fuel. Now get ready for yellow as scientists have found a way to turn banana waste into a sustainable fuel source that could be relevant to many countries across Africa.

Rotting banana skins are mashed into a pulp, then mixed with saw dust
The simple, low-tech idea, was developed by researchers at Nottingham University.
They used banana skins to create briquettes that can be burned for cooking, lighting and heating.
It could alleviate the burden of gathering firewood, the dominant energy source in many parts of the continent.
This would help reduce deforestation, which makes a significant contribution to global climate change.
Go yellow
In some African countries, like Rwanda, bananas are an important and versatile crop, used for food, wine and beer.
But experts estimate that the edible fruit makes up just a small part of what the plant produces.
The banana skins bind other materials together really well, they act like glue
Joel Chaney,
Nottingham University
According to scientists, for every one tonne of bananas, there are an estimated ten tonnes of waste, made up of skins, leaves and stems.
It was on a visit to Rwanda that Joel Chaney, a PhD student from the University of Nottingham came up with the idea of developing a low-tech approach to turn this banana waste into an efficient fuel source.
Back in the laboratory at the University's faculty of engineering, Joel showed me how to make bananas burn.
He first mashes a pile of rotting skins and leaves. This pulp is then mixed with saw dust, compressed and dried to create briquettes that ignite readily and throw out a steady heat, ideal for cooking.
"The banana skins bind other materials together really well, they act like glue," says Mr Chaney.

The banana mixture dries into briquettes which can be burned on a stove
"We can then either form the material into a ball by hand, or use a press to squeeze the materials together and squeeze the liquid out.
"Once we've pressed them we can lay the briquettes outside in the sun, and within about two weeks we have some dried fuel."
The emphasis of the project has been on developing a simple technology that can be used in developing countries without the need for a large financial outlay.
Over the years there have been many attempts to develop new stoves and fuel sources in Africa that have failed because they were too expensive or did not take on board local needs.
These briquettes are made by hand, we haven't used any mechanical equipment at all
Mike Clifford,
Nottingham University
Mike Clifford is associate professor in the department of engineering at Nottingham. Standing around a stove in the laboratory that's using banana briquettes to boil water, he says he is really pleased with the project.
"This is working really well. These briquettes we've made by hand, we haven't used any mechanical equipment at all. No technology and we've had a really good result," he says.
"We're starting from very basic problems and we are making the solutions as simple and accessible as possible to the people that need them.
"It's almost seen as a new colonialism, imposing solutions on people in developing countries, we are very keen not to do that."
Saving firewood
The scientists believe that banana fuel might help reduce dependence on wood as an energy source across Africa.

The briquettes are easily made, no machinery is required
In some of the continent's biggest banana-producing countries like Rwanda, Tanzania and Burundi, more than 80% of current energy needs are met from burning wood.
This has a very damaging impact on the environment leading to deforestation which contributes to climate change. Gathering wood for fuel is also a time consuming job, mainly done by women.
"In some areas wood fuel is getting depleted and you are getting deforestation. Women sometimes have to walk over six hours a day to get firewood," says Joel Chaney.
"This is a way to use waste from crops like bananas, to make them burn in a better way because loose residue most often just burns too rapidly.
"Imagine just putting some straw onto your fire at home. It just goes up in flames, you can't cook food over it, while the briquettes provide a way to cook food in a much better way."
The Nottingham researchers say their low-tech approach is a small step along the way of meeting the millennium goals and helping people out of poverty.
They say that they are happy to give the idea away for free and are encouraging people who want to use the idea to get in touch.

Use of supplement levels of Stylosanthes scabra (Stylo) leaf

Livestock Research for Rural Development 21
(5) 2009
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Abstract
A study was conducted in the research station of the Institut des Sciences Agronomiques du
Rwanda (ISAR), Karama research station in order to evaluate the effect of the various levels of
supplement of Stylosanthes scabra (Stylo) leaf meal on the milk production of the Ankole cows.
Sixteen cows with average live weight of 330 kg in the same stage of lactation were selected for
the experiment. Each feed ration was assigned to each treatment of 4 cows. SS0 (control) was fed
on the natural pasture; other treatments: SS10, SS20 and SS30 received supplement of Stylo leaf
meal at the rates of 10; 20 and 30% of dry matter (DM) corresponding to 1; 2 and 3 kg of DM
respectively. The duration of the study was 2 months. Data were collected on milk yield (in
liters) and on chemical feed analysis namely neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber
(ADF), crude proteins (CP), phosphorus (P) and calcium (Ca).
It has been noticed that the content of CP in Stylo was 21% and 6.1% in natural pasture. The
average intake of the supplement per day was high in SS30 (2.5 kg of DM/day) followed by
SS20 (1.7 kg of DM/day) and finally comes SS10 (0.7 kg of DM/day). The quantity of milk
produced was significantly high (p< 0.05) in the treatment having received supplements of Stylo
than in the treatments fed on natural pasture. It was noticed that the greatest milk production was
obtained in the cows which received 30% (3 kg of DM) of Stylo, followed by SS20 and SS10
which received 20% and 10% of Stylo respectively. At the end of experiment, it was suggested
that 3 kg of DM of Stylo was the optimal level of supplement for the milk production of 1.80
l/day of Ankole cow.
Key words: Ankole cows, milk production, Stylosanthes scabra leaf meal
Introduction
Rwandan economy is dependent on agriculture and livestock production with more than 85% of
the population relying on agriculture and livestock production for livelihood (MINAGRI 2001).
Rwandan rate of population growth is very high; this has put a pressure on the arable lands and
pastures. These cause the reduction of cattle population which led also to the deficit of animal
protein in the diet of the majority of the Rwandans. However, cattle production occupies an
important place and plays a principal role in the economic and social life of the Rwandans.
Furthermore, the local cattle Ankole, is the most representative cattle and most popular in
Rwanda (Ndoba 2000). Cattle owners have started to improve Ankole by the introduction of the
exotic blood, but their genetic potentials are not yet well-known.
Likewise, all cattle genetic improvement start with the Ankole breed thanks to its hardiness. If it
were subjected to better management and feeding, it could uplift its genetic potentials and its
performances of reproduction which remain currently very low. The feed remains always a
capital constraint for the improvement of the cattle production in Rwanda. Many livestock
owners in the country use semi-intensive system. According to MINAGRI (1997) this mode of
cattle production is practiced by more than 62% of the cattle keepers, except in the eastern region
of the country where it is 14.3%.
Everywhere in the grazing land, there is dominance of grass in comparison with legumes and the
animals are also offered grasses as supplement (Pennissetum purpureum, Setaria sphacelata and
other grass pastures cultivated on the bund for the erosion control). Furthermore, concentrates
are very expensive under the local farmer conditions, and the effectiveness of the use of legumes
in the ration of the animals remains low. Under the situation it is necessary to incorporate fodder
legumes in the animal feeding system for economic milk production by Rwandan farmers.
Among the factors that contribute to the milk yield, feeding occupies the key role along with
pests and disease control. Relying on the natural grass feed only is insufficient for lactating and
in-calf animals for high productivity. For a clear increase in the livestock production, the
contribution of fodder legume in the ration is one of the solutions suggested, because of its
impact on the growth and the production, and of its accessibility to the small holder farmers
compared to the concentrates. This study aimed to highlight the influence of Stylosanthes scabra
as supplement feed on the milk production of the Ankole cows. The objective was to contribute
to the increase of milk production of Ankole cow starting with the improvement of the natural
pasture by supplementation with fodder legume (Sthylosanthes scabra). It is within this frame
the hypothesis that: introduction of Stylosanthes scabra as supplement of basic feed (natural
pasture) significantly increases the milk production of the Ankole cows.
Materials and methods
Location of study
The study was conducted in the research station of the ISAR-Karama located in the district of
Bugesera, eastern province of Rwanda. The geographical positions are 1’300– 30° 25’ East and
2° 05’- 2° 30’ South and an altitude of 1400 m a.s.l (Munyemana 2001). According to the
classification of Koppen, the climate of Bugesera is of the Aw type 3-4 characterized by an
average temperature of the coldest month higher than 18°C and a dry season of 3 to 4 months
(Munyemana 2001). According to Chapelle (1978) cited by Rwicaninyoni (1987), the rainfall is
frequently in lower part of 1000 mm and reached an average of 950 mm per year, which induces
a rather dry climate. According to the same author, the daily temperatures generally vary
between 15°C and 28°C with an average of 21.5°C. The average relative sunshine calculated in
18 years is 51.5%, the relative humidity of the air is around 73.5% and the mean velocity of the
wind is of 3.68 km/h. The vegetation is marked by the abundance of xerophilous thickets in
dense formation. These thickets join together a hundred species where dominate Carissa sp,
Haplocoelum spp, Olea spp, of the small lawns graminaceous, especially Brachiaria which grow
between the thickets. These thickets characterize the local pastures (Munyemana 2001). The area
of ISAR - Karama is about 1000 ha with 300 ha for agriculture and 700 ha for grazing land and
for the fodder crops like Pennisetum purpereum, Setaria sphacelata, Calliandra callothyrus,
Sthylosanthes guianensis, Sthylosanhes scabra, Desmodium distortum, Mucunhas utilis.
Duration of the experiment
The duration of the study was 2 months: from August 15 at October 15, 2008. This period was
covered by a dry season.
Experimental animals
Sixteen Ankole cows of the ISAR-Karama in period of lactation were selected based on their age
and calving stage and similar weight (about 330 kg). They were initially subjected to a veterinary
examination and verified to be healthy. The ticks were controlled by dipping tank in acaricide
once per week and then the cows were assigned in 4 treatments at random and identified by ear
tags. All the selected cows were in the 3rd calving and were in 1st month of lactation. In the
ISAR- Karama research station milk yield of Ankole cows was estimated at 0.7 liters per day.
Feed
The basic feed was primarily made up by the natural pasture dominated by Brachiaria
humidicolla, Hyparrhenia rufa and Cynodon dactylon. Apart from natural grazing, the mineral
supplement was the salts mixed in the water. The supplement ration consisted of Stylosanthes
scabra which was cultivated and collected in the field of forage seed multiplication of ISARKarama.
This supplement ration was the object of the study. Prior to the experimentation 16
animals were fed on similar feed to accustom to a new environment and a new diet. During the
period of experiment, each morning after milking, cows were led to the grazing land and
remained there for 9 hours; the supplement ration was distributed in evening according to the
level allotted to each group as it is indicated in table 1. The animals were watered during the day
in herd and during the evening, the water was distributed ad libitum in a shed.
Table 1. Experimental design
Number of
treatments
Number of
cows Feeds
SS0 (control) 4 Natural pasture (grazed voluntary by cows in the
pasture)
SS10 (treatment) 4 Natural pasture +10% of Sthylosanthes Scabra DM
SS20 (treatment) 4 Natural pasture + 20% of Sthylosanthes Scabra DM
SS30 (treatment) 4 Natural pasture + 30% of Sthylosanthes Scabra DM
For the mineral of supplement, the cows received salt mixed in water and during the
experimentation, hygiene was ensured in a rigorous way.
Feed intake
To know feed intake of the various supplement rations used, the quantity of feed distributed and
that refused were weighed daily and noted in a register. Thus the feed intake was obtained by
making the difference between the distributed quantities of feed and that refused.
Milk production
To know the quantity of milk produced, the milking was carried out manually twice a day each
morning and each evening, measured and recorded. To stimulate the letdown of the milk, calves
suckled before milking and after milking for the period of the experiment. The milk consumed
by calves was not measured because of lack of appropriate materials; neither did we take calf
weight during the trial period.
Feed analysis
The nutrient of feed used in the experiment was analyzed to determine the quality of fodder
which constituted the various levels of supplement ration and the natural pasture grazed by
animals. These samples were taken randomly and were analyzed according to formula of AOAC
(1990) for the dry matter (DM) using an oven at 105° C, neutral detergent fibers (NDF), acid
detergent fiber (ADF), crude protein (CP), calcium was made by the atomic absorption
spectrophotometer and phosphorus by colorimetry.
Statistical analysis
The relationship between feed consumed and supplement feed, milk production and supplement
feed were plotted on bar charts. Box-cox plots were conducted for the two data sets. Data on
milk yield was square root transformed y΄=sqrt (x+0.5) to stabilize the variances before the
mixed model procedure of SAS was conducted. Means were separated with t-test of probabilities
of the pair wise least square means. To estimate percent change in feeding animals with
progressive concentrate at the rate of 1kg, the formula (1) was used.
Y= (C-B)/Cx 100 (1)
Where:
Y is percentage change if we fed the cow with additional B concentrate;
C= milk derived when used natural pasture; and
B milk derived when we use B (=1, 2, 3 kg) supplements.
In some of the cases that required ANOVA analyses, least significant differences (LSD) was
used at p=0.05 in separating means.
Results
Feed analysis
Results of the pasture chemical analysis of the various samples taken in the natural pasture and
the supplement ration (Stylosanthes scabra) were analyzed in a dry status. As one of the
objectives of this study was to determine the content of nutritive value of Stylosanthes scabra,
and that of the natural pasture, table 2 shows that the dry matter concentration of feed did not
vary very much natural pasture had 96.26% of DM while Stylosanthes scabra had 96.23%.
Table 2. Nutritive value of natural pasture and Stylosanthes scabra of Karama
Feed DM,
%
CP,
%
ADF,
%
NDF,
% P, % Ca,
% CF, % Ash, %
Natural
pasture 96.26 6.1 51.8 71.3 0.12 0.5 37.5 8.35
S.scabra 96.23 21 28.8 37.9 0.24 1.21 31.95 8.88
Legend: DM: Dry Matter; ADF: Acid Detergent Fiber, CF: Crude fiber; NDF: Neutral Detergent Fiber; CP:
Crude Protein;
P: Phosphorus, Ca: Calcium
Stylosanthes scabra had about 3.5 times higher CP than the natural pasture that is explained by
the fact that Stylosanthes scabra is a plant legume whereas the natural pasture is dominated by
the grass herbs.
For phosphorus, the concentration varies between 0.12% DM for the natural pasture and 0.24%
of DM for Stylosanthes scabra. Calcium levels concentrations were between 0.5% of DM for the
natural pasture, and 1.21% of DM for Stylosanthes scabra. Finally the various concentrations in
ash varied between 8.35% of DM for the natural pasture and 8.88% for Stylosanthes scabra.
Supplement ration consumption
During the experimentation, cows of SS10, SS20 and SS30 were fed supplement ration with the
various rates (10, 20 and 30 % respectively) of Stylosanthes scabra and feed consumption is
presented in table 3.
Table 3. Daily supplement ration consumption
Period in
Week
Treatments
SS10 SS20 SS30
Kg (DM) /day Kg (DM) /day Kg (DM) /day
1 0.66 1.70 2.40
2 0.73 1.43 2.40
3 0.71 1.60 2.28
4 0.74 1.51 2.13
5 0.84 1.90 2.59
6 0.81 1.89 2.84
7 0.84 1.76 2.63
8 0.86 1.80 2.77
9 0.84 1.82 2.78
Thus the incorporation of Stylosanthes scabra leaf meal in the order of 10; 20 and 30% of DM in
the ration led to a significant increase in feed intake (P< 0.05). Different letters indicate
significantly different (p=0.05) by LSD (Figure 1).
Figure 1. Quantity of supplement feed consumed by cows
This shows that Stylosanthes scabra, besides its considerable nutritive value, is also highly
palatable to the cattle. Moreover, the incorporation of high CP feed as supplement is known to
create conditions very favorable to the growth and the proliferation of the micro-organisms of the
rumen which will attack and degrade the lignified elements of the ration, which increases the
feed intake. The quantities of supplement offered and consumed show that the supplement was
highly relished by the animals with hardly any refusals.
Milk production
Evolution of milk production
Mean milk outputs at various levels of Stylosanthes scabra leaf meal during the study as well as
percent increase of milk production due to use of Stylosanthes scabra have also been calculated
and given on Table 4.
Table 4. Least square means of milk yield of Ankole cows under different feed supplement
Supplementary feed, % Milk yield/ day x, liters ±0.011 % change from Control
Control (SS0) 0.98 (0.47) -
10 1.27 (1.10) 28.94*
20 1.40 (1.45) 42.32*
30 1.52 (1.80) 54.38*
x Data from square root transformation. Actual means are in parenthesis.
* Significantly different (p≤0.03) by t-test of the pair wise probabilities from least square
means
This table shows that the greatest output of milk was reached by the treatment which received
30% of the additional ration (54.4% higher than the control).The figure 2 shows a general
progression of milk production as we increased the supplement. Lack of supplement gave very
low yield throughout the nine weeks. Feeding Ankole cows with 1 kg of legume Stylosanthes
scabra increased milk production by about 29% (P≤0.03).
Figure 2. Box-cox plot for milk distribution over feed supplement
The milk production was observed to increase with the level of supplementation. SS0 produced
0.47 l of milk on average per week for duration of 9 weeks or 61 days because the last week
lasted 5 days. It should also be realized that these cows were at the 3rd calving.
Analysis of the milk production
The analysis of milk production, ANOVA is presented on Figs 3. Distributed feed following the
various levels of Stylosanthes scabra in the ration showed a significant difference (P< 0.05) for
the milk production.
Figure 3. Average milk production per feeding treatment
Indeed, the analyses carried out for the sample taken in the pasture showed that the pasture was
relatively low in nutritive value with crude protein content of 6.1 % of DM.
Another factor which can explain the low milk production of the cows which consumed only the
natural pasture can be the low digestibility of the fodder resources available, for the majority is
the grasses, whereas principal herbs species composing this pasture are the grasses which are
rich in CF and not very digestible lignin. Significant increase in the production in the cows
which received a supplement of Stylosanthes scabra leaf meal from 10; 20 and 30%, can be
explained by the quality of feed value of Stylosanthes scabra. According to the chemical
analyses carried out, it has a content of crude protein of 21% of DM and a content of relatively
low fiber, neutral detergent fiber 37.9% (NDF) and acid detergent fiber 28.8% of DM (ADF).
Besides this difference related to the supplement ration used, other factors can also explain this
low milk production of the cows which received only pasture. Again the experimentation was
conducted during the dry season where almost the totality of the pasture was composed of dry
grass of bad quality. The chemical analyses carried out for the natural pasture of the ISARKarama
confirmed the low content of crude proteins and a high content of fiber.
The milk production of the three supplemented treatments also shows significant differences.
This difference probably comes from the various feed levels which provide additional nutrients
through the incremental supplement.
Discussion
Feed analysis
It may be noted that the low content of crude protein was observed during dry period; it could
have been different if wet seasons were also considered. According to Rivière (1991) with share
the degree of drying, other factors can influence the content of dry matter of feed; these are plant
species, the age of the plant, the parts of the plant, the season and soil type. Mandret (1990)
confirms that the content of dry matter is low during the rainy season and increase slowly until
the beginning of the dry season, and then it progresses rather quickly during the dry season to
reach a level of 80 - 90% and that at the end of the dry season the cows have only fodder with
high percentage of dry matter. According to Cheeke (2005) the fodder legumes are richer in
protein than the grasses. The grasses generally have a low content of proteins but which can be
improved by the nitrogen fertilization if the harvest of fodder is carried out when plant is still
young (Miller 1979). According to the same author, with great nitrogen fertilization, the content
of CP of certain immature grass species can exceed 20% of the dry matter. Considering the
fibrous components, the content of ADF of natural pasture is almost twice (51.8%) of that of
Stylosanhes scabra. The same applies for NDF, (71.3%) for the pasture and 37.9% for
Stylosanthes scabra. Here the high content NDF is indicative of maturity of the pasture.
According to Jarrige and Peyraud (1993), the grasses are more lignified than fodder leguminous
plants. Content of ADF and NDF which is presented in Stylosanthes scabra is also considerably
lower than in the natural grass. Normally, the fraction of ADF is consisted of CF, the lignin and a
large fraction of hemicelluloses and pectic substances. The results of the analysis of the chemical
composition carried out on the natural pasture of ISAR-Karama confirm the low nutritive value
of tropical grass species. The tropical grass species are known to be richer in the structural
carbohydrates and low in crude protein, with a low rate of digestion of OM and DM.
As for Stylosanthes scabra, these Phosphorus contents and Calcium were not far from those cited
by Toutain et al (1992) on Stylosanthes scabra in West Africa. The author found that
Stylosanthes scabra present values equivalent to 0.29% for the Phosphorus and 1.32% of
Calcium. These differences observed could be due to the various factors cited by various authors:
Miller (1979) reports that the differences observed would be ascribable at the stage of maturity to
harvest, the fertilization and the edaphic characteristics, the climate and the season, as to the
changes which take place during the conservation and storage. For crude fiber, the concentration
varied between 37.5% for the natural pasture and 31.95% for Stylosanthes scabra, these contents
are almost similar. The values found do not diverge completely with those from Jarrige (1988).
He found values of CF about 38% DM for the grass fodder and 35% DM for fodder legumes.
Here the content of crude fiber of grass fodder remain higher than that of fodder legumes, which
testifies the bad digestibility of grass fodder compared to fodder leguminous plants. The
concentrations of ash as presented in table 5 do not diverge much from the value 8.14% DM for
Stylosanthes scabra (Edye and Topark-Ngarm 1992).
Supplement ration consumption
The high feed intake can be due at the physiological state of the cows and their levels of
production. The level of production has a clear influence in the cows with strong production
which have large energy need (Rivière 1991). According to this author, the cows in lactation
consume more than dried cows without considering the quantity of milk produced. The other
factors influencing the feed intake; include the level of energy in the ration. If feed is sufficiently
palatable to be easily consumed, the principal factor which determines their voluntary ingestion
is the concentration in energy (Cheeke 2005). According to the same author, if the diet low in
energy is used, the ingestion of feed is high, than that with a diet rich in energy. Ademond
(1985), reports that the presence of fodder legumes in a ration increases the dry matter
consumption and probably digestibility. It still affirmed that the animals receiving the highest
level of supplement never refuse and present a consumption of 37.7% higher than that of the
reference treatment subjected to the exclusively grass mode.
Another factor related to the chemical composition of the feed and which influences also the
intake, is the fiber concentration. The content of acid detergent fiber (ADF) affects more
ingestion than the fraction of detergent fiber neutral (NDF), which seriously does not limit
ingestion Van Soest (1994), cited by Karugendo (1998). A supplement of digestible nitrogen
matter can improve in a clear way the digestibility of fodder and increases the voluntary level of
ingestion thus making it possible to significantly reduce the losses of weight of the animals and
to even meet in certain case the needs for maintenance (Rivière 1991). The content of protein of
feed also acts on their intake. According to Crowder et al (1982) quoted by Karugendo (1998),
the weak ingestion observed on tropical fodder is due with low content of proteins of the mainly
forage grass. Elliot and Signals (1963), and Minson et al (1976) quoted by Karugendo (1998),
observed a reduction of ingestion when the content of protein went down in lower part from 70
g/kg from DM. However, the content of ADF exceeding 500-600 g/kg DM is reported to be an
inhibiting limit of ingestion. The low nitrogen content of feed does not allow a sufficient
proliferation of the bacteria of the rumen, resulting into fall of digestibility, and an obstruction of
the rumen by not digested substances (Rivière 1991). However the age of fodder at harvest also
influences the contents of the fiber in the forage which in turn makes them more resistant to
digestion. According to Rutazihana (2003) more the plants age, more resist the microbial attack,
but the cow needs a large and sufficient quantity of DM to maintain rumination. The fodder
legumes used during the experimentation had not exceeded its state of harvest.
Milk production
Evolution of milk production
The peak of lactation was 0.74 l for the SS0, 1.24 l for the SS10, 1.57 l for the SS20 and finally
1.94 l for the SS30. It was observed that the milk production of the cows of these various
treatments shows a higher milk production during the second and seventh week of the
experiment, which does not diverge completely with the various authors. According to CPAQ
(1981), the peak of lactation continues between the sixth and the eighth week after calving and
finally decreases regularly. Craplet (1973) reported that the milk production increased during the
first week following the calving and passes by a maximum the second and the sixth week then
decreases more or less regularly until drying up. The principal factors of variation of the
maximum daily milk production are: Initial production, feed, the number of milking per day as
well as the interval between each milking.
Analysis of milk production
In practice the protein content which is equivalent to 16% in the ration is necessary for the
majority of the cows in lactation consuming sufficient energy to satisfy the energy needs (Miller
1979). The energy expenditure of the production of milk is very important. They are a function
of the secreted quantity and the composition of milk, which varies with the animal species, the
breed, its aptitude and its degree of selection, and individuality (Rivière 1991). According to this
author, for the same individual, this expenditure also depends on the age, the number of calving
and the stage of lactation, as well as conditions of maintenance, feed and health of the animal.
Tropical fodder is in general richer in crude fiber less digestible and also lower in nutritive value.
The low fiber concentration shows that Stylosanthes scabra has a considerable feed value. When
the content of fiber is sufficiently low, the animals can satisfy their energy needs.
Indeed, the experimentation being conducted during the dry season where almost the totality of
the pasture was composed of dry grass of bad quality. According to Cheeke (2005), the climatic
factors are contributed to the reduction of the feed value of tropical grasses. Same author quoted
by Jarrige (1995), the high temperatures are at the environmental origin of the lignifications and
the reduction of the digestibility of fodder. The daily milk production was on average of 1.12 l;
1.45 l and 1.83 l respectively for SS10, SS20 and SS30. These values approach with those
obtained by Sibomana (1992) at the Station of ISAR-SONGA (from 1976 to 1982) on the cows
Ankole 2.1 ± 0.1 kg per day of lactation. But Rubona happened to be in a relatively wet and cool
environment. That shows that the contribution of the various levels of Stylosanthes scabra to the
Ankole cows of the ISAR-Karama during lactation a positive effect on the milk production.
A part from the way in which we fed the cows for this period of lactation, the pre-calving feed
can also intervene on the milk production. According to Uwituze (2002), the milk production
depends on several factors where sufficient feed during pregnancy is important, and the quality
of a feed is assessed through qualities of the required nutrients that it provides to the animal.
The dairy females can be brought to a satisfactory condition, only if they are properly fed to meet
the needs for growth, maintenance and pregnancy, before entering in lactation (Rivière 1991).
According to this author, to maximize the milk production, two particular periods require
attentive care, the last months of pregnancy and the beginning of lactation. Thus the fact that for
the periods which precede the experimentation the cows fed only natural pasture, can explain the
small quantity of milk. The way in which we made the milking can also justify the low milk
production.
Conclusions
• The chemical analyses carried out on feed used during the experimentation, showed that
Stylosanthes scabra present the nutritive values considerable. Its content of CP is 21%DM.
whereas it is 6.1% DM for the natural pasture.
• It was proven that Stylosanthes scabra leaf meal can be introduced in the ration of the dairy
cows. In this study, it was proven that by distributing proportions of 10%; 20% and 30% of
Stylosanthes scabra after the grazing, the feed intake continues to increase what confirmed
that the quantity of the introduced ration increases as far as the level of Stylosanthes scabra
increase in the distributed of supplement ration.
• The supplement of Stylosanthes scabra leaf meal causes an increase in the milk production of
Ankole cows of the station of ISAR-Karama. The complementary ration containing 30%
which corresponds to 3 kg of Stylosanhes scabra DM causes a greater milk output (milk 1.83
l /day/ cow) followed by the complementary ration containing 20% and 10% which
respectively induced milk production of 1.45 l and 1.12 l of milk per day and cow. We can
conclude that this level of feed had a significant effect between the four treatments on the
milk production.
References
Ademond M 1985 Goat management research, Addis-Ababa Ethiopia, pp 57-77
AOAC (Association of official Agricultural Chemists) 1990 Official methods of Analysis, 15th
ed. 2200 Wilson Boulevard Arlington Virginia, USA pp 69 –88
Cheeeke PR 2005 Animal Applied nutrition 3 rd Edition, Department of Animal sciences,
Oregon State University, pp151-157
CPAQ 1981 Cow milk, Quebec, pp 81-82
Craplet C 1973 The dairy cow, .Edition.Vigot, Frères 23, Paris, pp181-183
Edye LA and Topark-Ngarm A 1992 Stylosanthes scabra Vogel. In: T Mannetje Land Jones R
M (editors) Seedling Resources of South-East Asia No.4. Forages. pp219- 221, from
Jarrige R 1988 Cattle, goat and sheep feeding, INRA, Paris, pp 80-121
Jarrige R and Peyraud J L 1993 Ruminants feeding in period of fodder shortage, from
http://www.clermont.inra.fr/
Jarrige R, Ruckebusch Y, Demarquilly C, Jokes H H and Journet M 1995 Domestic
ruminants’ nutrition, INRA, Paris pp 46-51
Karugendo C D 1998 The effect of Leucaena leucocephala on the performance of cattle grazing
on traditionally conserved forages, New, Sokoine University of Tanzania agriculture, pp22-44
Mandret G 1990 Effect of the factors temperature and nitrogenized nutrition on growth of the
tropical fodder plants, Dakar, Senegal, pp119-124,
Miller W J 1979 Dairy cattle feeding and nutrition, p 221-225
MINAGRI (Ministry of agriculture and animal resources of Rwanda) 1997 Annual report,
Kigali, Rwanda
MINAGRI 2001 Annual report, Kigali- Rwanda
Munyemana J M V 2001 Evaluation of some agroforestry species for resistance to the termites
on the grounds of Bugesera, case of the Kayovu hill, Memoir, UNR, Faculty of Agronomy,
Butare, New, pp 26-27
Ndoba KS 2000 Study of the influence of the level of feeding on the growth and body
development of the heifers of Ankole breed, Memory, UNR, Faculty of Agronomy, Butare-
Rwanda
Rivière 1991 Feed of the domestic ruminants in tropical medium, Collection “Manual and precis
of Breeding”, IEMVT, Paris, pp133-161
Rutazihana G 2003 Effect of the feed level of the concentrates on the reproduction, production
of first calf cows bovine of Ankole breed and the growth of calves, Memoir, UNR, Faculty of
Agronomy, Butare, pp79-81
Rwicaninyoni J 1987 Influence of the improved fallow on ferralitics soil (oxisols) of the area of
Bugesera. Memoir, Faculty of Agronomy, UNR, Butare,
Sibomana G 1992 Productivity of the cattle Ankole and its cross with jersey and sahiwal in
station in Rwanda, technical notes, ISAR- CIPEA
Toutain B, Peyre De Fabregues B, Roberge G. Bigot A and Rippstein G 1992 A review of
research, extension and utilization studies on Stylosanthes in West Africa. Stylosanthes as forage
and fallow crop. Proceedinds of the regional workshop on the use of Stylosanthes in west Africa
held in Kaduna, Nigeria. Edited by P.N de Leuuw, M.A. Mohamed, Saleem and A.M. Nyamu.
Available on www.ilri.org/infoserv/webpub/Full docs/stylo/STYLO.pdf
Uwituze S 2000 Influence of the feed level post weaning on the carcass performances of local
goat, Memoir, UNR, Faculty of Agriculture, Butare, Rwanda
Received 9 January 2009; Accepted 26 January 2009; Published 1 May 2009
Available at: http://www.lrrd.org
ISSN 0121-3784

Report on Cassava Field day in Kamonyi District (27/01/2009)

1. Introduction

On Tuesday the 27th January 2009, Cassava Program, in collaboration with ISAR Head Office, organized field day at Nyamiyaga Sector, Kamonyi District in Southern Province to release officially the new cassava varieties.
Participants came from Southern Province (The Governor, the Mayors of Kamonyi and Muhanga Districts), Representatives of RADA, CRS and various partners (NGOs, Local administration) and farmers. Other ISAR’s Researchers from different programs participated in the ceremony.

2. Objective of the ceremony
The main objective of the ceremony was to official release 4 new cassava varieties from Research Institute (ISAR) after six years of selection, those new varieties released are: MM96/5280; MM96/3920; MM96/0287 and MM96/7204. All these four varieties are tolerant to CMD, sweet taste and high yielding.

3. Field visited

After welcoming remarks by Deputy Director General in charge of research, Dr Jonas Mugabe, all the participants visited the multiplication field of improved varieties and had the exchange of information with the farmers, especially the field’s owner. Farmers and visitors moved inside the field and observed the new cassava varieties, they said that the new varieties had good characteristic, especially tolerance to CMD, the major constraint.
After field visit, the participants went to see cassava processing unit established by UMUHUZA Cooperative in order to add value to cassava crop. The team leader of this Cooperative explained which kind of activities briefly but also the challenges, especially the lack of power energy (electricity); the Governor of Southern Province gave the promises that the problem will be resolved shortly.

4. Mini show

After field visit and processing unit visit, all participants visited also a mini show where fresh tubers, boiled tubers, food (Ugali) and cassava flour of new varieties were shown at RFDTC (Ruyumba Farm Demonstration and Training Center). The Head of Cassava ¨Program, Mr Gervais Gashaka explained briefly how the process of selection is done from introduction of new materials to final stage of releasing new varieties to farmers.
Mrs Marie-Claire Kanyange, who was the Chairperson of the ceremony, organized the process to giving the local names to new varieties by farmers. After tasting boiled tubers and food (Ugali) of new varieties, a team of eight farmers from UMUHUZA Cooperative gave local names based on their taste, yield, sweetness, colour and tolerance to CMD as follow: MM96/5280 (Seruruseke); MM96/3920 (Rwizihiza); MM96/0287 (Mavoka) and MM96/7204 (Garukunsubire).

5. Closing remarks
Farmer Representative and field owner, Mr François Nsanzintwari thanked all participants, especially ISAR, to organise this field day. He wished to collaborate with ISAR in variety selection, during On-farm trials.

The Coordinator of INGABO Syndicate, Mr François Mbabazi, highlighted the importance of cassava in the former Gitarama Province. He emphasized on the good collaboration between ISAR and INGABO Syndicate. After the damage of cassava mosaic disease (CMD), INGABO Syndicate received improved cassava varieties from ISAR and multiplied those varieties at large scale. As results of this multiplication activity, INGABO Syndicate generated a benefit of one billion and four hundred millions of Rwandan franc (1.400.000.000 FRw). He wished a continuous collaboration between research institute and farmer’s associations to promote cassava crop in Rwanda.

CRS Representative, Mr Sylvain Hakizimana, mentioned also a good collaboration between ISAR and CRS. He said that CRS support research activities like On-farm trials through Great Lakes Cassava Initiative (GLCI) project funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
RADA representative, Mr Gervais Ngerero, thanked ISAR for generating new varieties,. The major constraint to cassava production is cassava mosaic virus (CMV), the new varieties are tolerant to CMD, that is a good news for the farmers because this biotic constraint has spread in all farms. He also thanked Cassava program for providing the leaflet which contains the characteristics of the new varieties.
The Major of Kamonyi District in his speech, acknowledged all the participants for the important activity organized in his District and wished good collaboration between researchers and farmers, he thanked ISAR for organizing the field day and sharing information about the new varieties which presented good traits.
He wished to continue research, because it is very important, to have good plan for agricultural activity in the District in order to improve the economy of our country.
The Director General of ISAR, Dr Mark Bagabe thanked all ISAR staff, for organizing this important activity, secondly farmers for their collaboration in different activities and third the Governor and Majors of Kamonyi and Muhanga Districts, in Southern Province, for their support and to joining us in this field day. He briefly reminder the participants the main role of ISAR, as a research institute, ISAR has a mandate of research and the results or findings of research are disseminated through our partners. He said that ISAR planned to train extension staff at sector levels because there is a problem of management of crops. He said that after variety selection, ISAR gives the best ones to RADA and partners for large multiplication in order to increase the quantity of seeds to give to farmers.
The Governor of Southern Province, Mr Fidèle Ndayisaba, acknowledged ISAR for the field day on cassava, he thanked all participants to attend this ceremony. In his speech, he said that cassava is one of the priorities crops in Southern Province in crop intensification policy. He informed the participants that there are four processing units established in Kamonyi, Ruhango, Nyanza and Huye Districts in order to add value to cassava crop. So he encouraged the farmers to cultivate cassava at large scale because the market is there.
Finally he said that cassava is good, sweet, makes money and let’s love cassava (Imyumbati ni myiza, iraryoha, irakiza, tuyikunde).


Outcomes of the ceremony

The local names and characteristics of new varieties:

Variety Local name given Characteristics served as a reference to choose local name

MM96/5280 Seruruseke Early variety, which could fight against hunger; it makes

farmers happy

MM96/3920 Rwizihiza Variety with big tubers, so the yield is higher. It can improve

the calorie intake.

MM96/0287 Mavoka Yellow Variety, similar to an avocado. Tastes good.

MM96/7204 Garukunsubire People state that this variety is addictive – eating it causes

them to want to eat more and more.

By Gervais Gashaka

ISAR/ China commits $4.5m to agricultural research

Members of the delegation from Fu Jian Province of China laying a foundation stone at ISAR at Rubona Station.

HUYE - A foundation stone was laid Thursday for the construction of an agricultural technological demonstration centre at the Rwanda Institute of Scientific and Agricultural research (ISAR).
Built with the assistance of the Chinese Government, the centre is expected to serve as a bridge between the researcher and the end user, who is the farmer or agro-processor.
The Director General of ISAR, Dr Mark Bagabe Cyubahiro, said that the centre will mainly focus on training farmers and extension groups to be able to add value to what they produce.
“Technologies are produced from research but getting them to the end user through technology transfer process becomes a problem,” he said.
“The centre comes to build the capacity of our extension system so that research output can be able to reach the end user.”
Agriculture Minister Christopher Bazivamo hailed Rwanda-China relations saying that the bilateral cooperation in the agricultural sector will take them to another level.
The Minister said that centre comes in handy because it is in line with the country’s vision of transforming agriculture into a productive, high value, market oriented sector.
Bazivamo said that through the centre, local farmers and their cooperatives will receive training on modern farming technologies which they will be able to transfer to their communities.
“Chinese experts at the centre will set up demonstration farms and are also expected to carry out large scale crop production for the market,” he added.
The agricultural technological demonstration centre at ISAR will mainly focus on the production of rice, mushrooms, fish and natural resource management by stabilising steep slopes.
The Chinese Ambassador to Rwanda, Sun Shuzhong, said that as the world’s fastest developing country, China has fed more than 20 percent of the World’s population by only 7 percent of its arable land.
He said that his country has made remarkable achievements in its agricultural development with noticeable improvement in its agricultural technology and equipment.

Nicholas at the inauguration of Village of Hope 2.

Nicholas Habimana- victim of circumstances

BY PENINNAH GATHONI
“The spirit of a nation cannot be broken by wickedness .Fifteen years ago Rwanda became known for something really bad but the people of this country have shown the world that they can now live together, that instead of looking to Rwanda in despair we should now look to it for good examples.”
Cherie Blair said at the launch of loomba trust in Nyamirambo.
“Cherie pointed out that when you hear stories of what happened during the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, one wonders how anyone could survive something that terrible,” she wondered.
Cherie is convinced that generous hearts will bring back hope in place of despair and a future to the people of Rwanda. She shares the same with many other Rwandans.
Nicholas Habimana, for example, believes that he survived for a reason. He says that God had planned for him to be Rwandan and for him to be around for his people at such a time as this.
“I asked many times long after the genocide why I had survived and I felt that there was a particular reason that made God rescue me from the hands of death.”
In 1994, Nicholas was nurturing a young family, He had just married his wife and they had a six month young son. He remembers his fear and disillusionment when the genocide against the Tutsis began.
People were being killed all over and he explains that he felt at the line of attack since he had married outside his ‘ethnicity’. I had to protect my wife and that made me a target.
“I needed to get my wife and child out of the country but my choices were very minimal. We decided to flee to Kenya where we would lay low until it all passed and by chance we were able to get a flight out.”
In Kenya they were faced by even larger hostility as the authorities could not let them step a foot off the airport and threatened to depot them back and at the time it meant death.
“My wife, our little boy and I slept on the airport floor in Kenya for a week before we got the chance to go to Britain where we stayed until the end of 2001.”
In Britain, he met well-wishers who were waiting to help him but he was still very reserved and he could not accept their love easily.
“It was hurting at the time,” Nicholas explains.
He explains that this was a terrible time for him to learn how to forgive those who hurt him. He remarks that he felt hurt and betrayed.
“I, like other people would have chosen to hold on to the pain. I would have chosen to hate those who wronged me, but I chose to forgive. Not forgiving would have hurt me more.”
In 2001, Nicholas came back to Rwanda.
“I would have chosen to stay and have a good life in Britain but I needed to come back. I felt a challenge inside me to come back and do something for people who were not as lucky. For those who had lived through it all. I needed to bring healing to my people.”
With the help of his wife and well-wishers, Nicholas set out to build a village of hope for genocide survivors in the outskirts of Kigali, in Gasabo district. Currently he has helped build over twelve homes. His vision is to construct 60 homes for orphans and widows.
“Through these homes we hope to bring emotional transformation and economic prosperity to people who lost much more during the genocide and others.”
Nicholas calls on for all Rwandans to forgive those they feel hurt them. To learn that forgiveness is more for personal benefit and it is in no way a gift to the offender.
“Forgiveness means willing to acknowledge what is really in our hearts when we are wronged, “Nicholas encourages the people of Rwanda to become agents of healing and transformation.
Nicholas explains now he is able to look back not as a victim but as someone who survived. During a Sunday, service in CLA last week Nicholas Habimana stood up at the pulpit apologized on behalf of his community.
“I might not have been involved directly but my community was, and for that I apologize. I am a Hutu but my wife is a Tutsi. I was therefore, a victim of circumstances. It feels better to have someone say sorry -it helps one move towards healing. We all need to own our own mistakes and those of our people and apologize .There is need to give each other a chance to heal. It will start with an apology.”
In truth, the spirit of forgiveness will transform our country into a home we will all share as a family once again, despite what our history holds.
“I am not Rwandan by mistake. I am here to bring healing to my people. It’s my calling, and in it I have found fulfilment.” Nicholas concludes.

Banana textile project team on nationwide awareness campaign

BY JAMES MUNYANEZA

The technical team spearheading the country’s banana textile project has embarked on countrywide sensitization and fact-finding tours aimed at laying ground for the technology to make fabrics and other essential products out of banana stems.
The team was in Kabacuzi Sector, Muhanga District in the Southern Province on Tuesday where they met with members of women’s cooperative specializing in mat-making and basket weaving.
A week earlier, they had been to Rwamagana District where they visited Urugero Cooperative, which provided banana fibre from which Japan’s Tama Art University manufactured a gown that was donated to President Paul Kagame during the fourth Tokyo International Conference on Africa Development (TICAD).
The nationwide tours of the team comes two months after a Rwandan delegation returned from a study tour in Japan aimed at exploring the technicalities involved in creating a banana textile industry.
“After learning that there are some cooperatives in Rwanda are involved in the exercise of banana fibre extraction, we wanted to visit them and assess their traditional techniques, and at the same time inform them about the implementation plan to introduce new techniques of extraction,” said Yuri Mito, a Consultant on the project who works with Rwanda Workforce Development Authority (WDA).
She added that the next visit will be to another women cooperative in the Northern Province which is also involved in same field.
Yuri revealed that WDA has finalized a three-year implementation plan for introducing banana textile technology in Rwanda, and was closely working with UTEXRWA on installation of a production plant, and with KIST on research and development front.
On acquisition of extraction machinery, Yuri said that WDA was currently in contact with Indian and Pilipino companies to determine the feasibility of purchasing them from the two Asian countries.
“Introduction and development of banana textile could be beneficial for developing a new industry and a new technology, and create the employment and nurture skilled labour, leading to poverty reduction and sustainable development,” said WDA Director General, Chong Fook Yen.
Banana is an essential crop in Rwanda covering 23 percent of the total cultivated area and is grown by 90% of households. According to Rwanda Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), the country produces 2.5 million tonnes of bananas per year.
It has been suggested that the country has a potential to extract 2,500 tons of banana fibre per year (2.5million tons of banana fruits represent 25 million banana trees, and one banana stem can produce 0.1kg of banana fibres).
Currently, discarded raw materials (stems) are not utilized due to lack of techniques of the extraction of fibre and fabrication.

RWANDA - FRANCE RELATIONS

Tuesday, 07 April 2009 00:56 BY JAMES KARUHANGA

President Paul Kagame yesterday told visiting members of the international media that the relations between Rwanda and France are now improving. He revealed this at Urugwiro Village during a special news conference for the international press who are in the country to cover the 15th commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against Tutsis. "The relationship is improving. It is certainly much better than it used to be before the current (French) administration came to power. There is a big difference between the administration under (Jacques) Chirac and the administration under (Nicolas) Sarkozy," Kagame said.
"And there is still big room, we are working on to have this progress continue."

On the same issue a French journalist later pressed on seeking to know if there was "something" Kagame (or Rwanda) then expected from France today, the president responded that Rwanda expects a better understanding.

"I think we expect a better understanding of events, of history, of what happened – all of which have been affecting our relations."

"Can we have the truth, can we have the facts, can we have things put the way they should be?" he wondered.

"And if we can have convergence on this between France and Rwanda and, particularly France because whatever the argument is, they have a history with Rwanda. They were in Rwanda irrespective of whether we agree or do not agree on what they did or what they did not do."

And, he put in plain words what the contentious issues are.

"To agree or even come closer to agreeing on what this (French) involvement was about and what it contributed, on what it did not contribute to relate to this very serious and tragic situation we have before us," he said.

Kagame acknowledged that it is, "a bit complex" and noted the fact that the argument is "unfortunate" as it sometimes tends to encompass everybody in France or in Rwanda yet it does not.

"There are people who were, and not so many maybe, but who happened to be seen or their presence is interpreted in that much wider context. Even for people who either did not agree with France’s involvement in Rwanda before the genocide or during or after."

He, as a case in point, brought up the possibility of those who were not even yet born or who were born after the genocide and yet find themselves embroiled in the argument.

"If we could do some kind of sorting out of the real issues that we should be dealing with and deal with them correctly, I think that is what for us (Rwanda) we need to be looking at," he said.

Kagame stressed that getting the truth out, having facts; the evidence and, finally putting the blame where it should go are what is desirable.

During the news conference, Kagame responded to many questions, most related to the commemoration and he also spoke about the persistent media--especially international media--conflicting reporting about the numbers of Rwandans who died in 1994 genocide against Tutsis.

Some in the international press put the figure at 800,000, others even at 500,000 while a team of professional researchers put the number of victims at 1.2 million.

"We actually tried to do the actual counting and I think it was done professionally. People were hired from universities; statisticians were involved and so on."

On this issue too, Kagame said, people can decide to ignore it (actual figure) but that is a different matter.

The President concurred, the numbers issue is trivial and, might blur the underlying and more significant aspect – why and how the people were killed.

"I don’t want us to get lost in numbers. I think the weight lies in why these people were killed, even how they were killed."

"Some people think they are minimizing it, some are even saying it is only five hundred thousand, but a genocide that takes five hundred thousand lives is still genocide anyway. I don’t want us to get lost in numbers but that is the issue," Kagame emphasized.

Ends

RWANDA - FRANCE RELATIONS

Rwanda-France relations
Tuesday, 07 April 2009 00:56 BY JAMES KARUHANGA

President Paul Kagame yesterday told visiting members of the international media that the relations between Rwanda and France are now improving. He revealed this at Urugwiro Village during a special news conference for the international press who are in the country to cover the 15th commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against Tutsis. "The relationship is improving. It is certainly much better than it used to be before the current (French) administration came to power. There is a big difference between the administration under (Jacques) Chirac and the administration under (Nicolas) Sarkozy," Kagame said.
"And there is still big room, we are working on to have this progress continue."
On the same issue a French journalist later pressed on seeking to know if there was "something" Kagame (or Rwanda) then expected from France today, the president responded that Rwanda expects a better understanding.
"I think we expect a better understanding of events, of history, of what happened – all of which have been affecting our relations."
"Can we have the truth, can we have the facts, can we have things put the way they should be?" he wondered.
"And if we can have convergence on this between France and Rwanda and, particularly France because whatever the argument is, they have a history with Rwanda. They were in Rwanda irrespective of whether we agree or do not agree on what they did or what they did not do."
And, he put in plain words what the contentious issues are.
"To agree or even come closer to agreeing on what this (French) involvement was about and what it contributed, on what it did not contribute to relate to this very serious and tragic situation we have before us," he said.
Kagame acknowledged that it is, "a bit complex" and noted the fact that the argument is "unfortunate" as it sometimes tends to encompass everybody in France or in Rwanda yet it does not.
"There are people who were, and not so many maybe, but who happened to be seen or their presence is interpreted in that much wider context. Even for people who either did not agree with France’s involvement in Rwanda before the genocide or during or after."
He, as a case in point, brought up the possibility of those who were not even yet born or who were born after the genocide and yet find themselves embroiled in the argument.
"If we could do some kind of sorting out of the real issues that we should be dealing with and deal with them correctly, I think that is what for us (Rwanda) we need to be looking at," he said.
Kagame stressed that getting the truth out, having facts; the evidence and, finally putting the blame where it should go are what is desirable.
During the news conference, Kagame responded to many questions, most related to the commemoration and he also spoke about the persistent media--especially international media--conflicting reporting about the numbers of Rwandans who died in 1994 genocide against Tutsis.
Some in the international press put the figure at 800,000, others even at 500,000 while a team of professional researchers put the number of victims at 1.2 million.
"We actually tried to do the actual counting and I think it was done professionally. People were hired from universities; statisticians were involved and so on."
On this issue too, Kagame said, people can decide to ignore it (actual figure) but that is a different matter.
The President concurred, the numbers issue is trivial and, might blur the underlying and more significant aspect – why and how the people were killed.
"I don’t want us to get lost in numbers. I think the weight lies in why these people were killed, even how they were killed."
"Some people think they are minimizing it, some are even saying it is only five hundred thousand, but a genocide that takes five hundred thousand lives is still genocide anyway. I don’t want us to get lost in numbers but that is the issue," Kagame emphasized.

RWANDA HAS MORE THAN THE WILL

As we prepare as a Nation to commemorate the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi for the 15th time in Rwanda, one can’t help but reflect on the times past and the challenges ahead of us. Any witness to the Rwandan tragedy, near or far, will attest to the fact that what we have accomplished as a people is nothing short of a miracle. For it was and still is hard to imagine that any Nation, however big or small, could pick itself up, dust itself off and start all over by shear will power after a human tragedy of this magnitude. It is quite clear in the minds of our people that Rwanda should serve as a great example of triumph against adversity. We are the living proof that with the right kind of leadership and a clear vision, no mountain is too high to climb, no river to wide to cross. Fifteen years after the fact, it is our great conviction that nothing worse than what we have already overcome could be thrown our way. We are however fully aware that the long road to freedom and emancipation still has its share of challenges and remain mindful of ill will individuals who will stop at nothing in their pursuit of nothing less than the total failure of a Nation they claim to love.
They have gone as far as arguing that the reason to our apparent silence in the face of what we have endured is due to the fact that there was in fact no genocide. This movement is no stranger to anyonewho knows anything about genocide. It is called revisionism and we will fight it with all our might.
Fifteen years after the fact, this movement has grown more sophisticated in its cynical revision of History. It is not only found in the failure to act by those who knew well ahead of time what washappening, but also today in the form of endless criticism of every effort made by our country to lick its wounds and exorcise its demons without any offer of a solution in return.
Who are they to declare as nil the results of Gacaca? Who are they to claim a lack of real reconciliation amongst our people? Where have they been for the past fifteen years as we cried rivers of tears? What advise have they offered in way of solution to help us get where we are now?
We are not a bitter people. History has proven beyond a shadow of doubt that we are forgiving. It is in that spirit that we are once again extending our hands in friendship to all of those willing to accompany us on our journey towards healing as we strive to make a better life for ourselves.
We declare as false the notion that our people should be polarized along ethnic lines. We are one and indivisible and together we shall overcome. Rwanda HAS THE WILL AND is finding THE WAY.Join us for this 15th commemoration; Rwanda has a message to the World.
(Courtesy of By Albert Rudatsimburwa)

RWANDA HAS MORE THAN THE WILL

EDITORIAL Rwanda has more than the will
Rwanda has more than the will
Tuesday, 07 April 2009 01:34 Martine EDITORIAL

As we prepare as a Nation to commemorate the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi for the 15th time in Rwanda, one can’t help but reflect on the times past and the challenges ahead of us. Any witness to the Rwandan tragedy, near or far, will attest to the fact that what we have accomplished as a people is nothing short of a miracle. For it was and still is hard to imagine that any Nation, however big or small, could pick itself up, dust itself off and start all over by shear will power after a human tragedy of this magnitude. It is quite clear in the minds of our people that Rwanda should serve as a great example of triumph against adversity. We are the living proof that with the right kind of leadership and a clear vision, no mountain is too high to climb, no river to wide to cross. Fifteen years after the fact, it is our great conviction that nothing worse than what we have already overcome could be thrown our way. We are however fully aware that the long road to freedom and emancipation still has its share of challenges and remain mindful of ill will individuals who will stop at nothing in their pursuit of nothing less than the total failure of a Nation they claim to love.
They have gone as far as arguing that the reason to our apparent silence in the face of what we have endured is due to the fact that there was in fact no genocide. This movement is no stranger to anyonewho knows anything about genocide. It is called revisionism and we will fight it with all our might.
Fifteen years after the fact, this movement has grown more sophisticated in its cynical revision of History. It is not only found in the failure to act by those who knew well ahead of time what washappening, but also today in the form of endless criticism of every effort made by our country to lick its wounds and exorcise its demons without any offer of a solution in return.
Who are they to declare as nil the results of Gacaca? Who are they to claim a lack of real reconciliation amongst our people? Where have they been for the past fifteen years as we cried rivers of tears? What advise have they offered in way of solution to help us get where we are now?
We are not a bitter people. History has proven beyond a shadow of doubt that we are forgiving. It is in that spirit that we are once again extending our hands in friendship to all of those willing to accompany us on our journey towards healing as we strive to make a better life for ourselves.
We declare as false the notion that our people should be polarized along ethnic lines. We are one and indivisible and together we shall overcome. Rwanda HAS THE WILL AND is finding THE WAY.Join us for this 15th commemoration; Rwanda has a message to the World.
(Courtesy of By Albert Rudatsimburwa)

WEBAGRIS ANNOUNCEMENT

SECOND CALL FOR PAPERS International Conference for Digital Libraries and the Semantic Web(ICSD2009) September 8-11, 2009 - University of Trento, Trento (ITALY)*****************************************************************************

Digital libraries, in the central view of the term, focus on storing andorganizing digital objects and providing access to these objects throughprofessional or user-generated metadata or content-based search (full text,image content, full musical score). In an expanded view, DLs also supportannotation, generation or editing of digital objects and provide tools forprocessing digital objects. The semantic Web focuses on the formalrepresentation of data for more precise retrieval and, more importantly, forreasoning so that many often disparate items of data can be combined todirectly answer a user's question or to devise a plan of action. ICDLSWaddresses two main questions:(1) How can digital libraries support Semantic Web functionality?(2) How can Semantic Web technology improve digital libraries?Ultimately the goal is an environment in which all functionality is availableto the user without the perception of different systems or system boundaries.Contributions are sought that address one or both of the main questions orsteps towards the ultimate system. Some example topics are listed below, butthe purpose of this list is just to stimulate thinking. SPECIFIC TOPICS that address one or both of the main questions:* Digital objects that provide formal representation of data ready forreasoning, possibly in addition to text, images, or sound.* Knowledge acquisition: Editing tools that assist subject experts in thecreation of formal representations of data.* Digital objects that interact with the user or software agents.* Standards and specifications for digital objects.* Organization and retrieval of software agents and Semantic Web services.* Semantic search. Use of ontologies and knowledge bases (such as topic maps)to improve search for digital objects.* Question answering from text, from data/knowledge bases, or a combination.* Next generation OPACs.* The structure and creation of ontologies to support these functions.* Using the intellectual capital available in traditional KOS such as DeweyDecimal Classification (DDC), UDC, or MeSH in the construction of ontologiesthat support truly semantic search and reasoning.* Vocabulary and taxonomy development.* Multilingual issues in Digital Libraries.* Semantics of bibliographical databases.* Metadata standards, Interoperability and Crosswalks.* Digital Library and Semantic Web Projects and Case Studies.We invite original papers in English on all relevant topics as mentionedabove. Papers will be reviewed based on originality of work, quality andrelevance to the main theme of the conference. Peer reviewed and acceptedpapers will be published in the conference proceedings. The papers shouldfollow the SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS provided on the conference website.The conference will explore the area of digital libraries and the semanticweb through tutorials, workshops, demonstrations, invited talks andpresentations. The conference will also serve as a working platform forcommunities to discuss and agree on joint work. We also encourage thesubmission of workshop proposals for this purpose.SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE: *Paolo Bouquet, University of Trento (Italy)*Johannes Keizer, FAO of the United Nations (Italy)*Wolfgan Nejdl, University of Hannover (Germany)*ARD Prasad, Indian Statistical Institute, Bangalore (India) *Heiko Stoermer, University of Trento (Italy)IMPORTANT DATES:April 16, 2009: Submission (Papers, Posters & Workshops)June 24, 2009: Camera-ready copySeptember 8-11, 2009: Conference at the University of TrentoFOR MORE INFORMATION: http://www.icsd-conference.org/

BANANA PRODUCTION, POST HARVEST AND MARKETING IN RWANDA

by Mukantwali Christine, Shingiro Jean Bosco, Dusengemungu Leonidas

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

A survey aiming at assessing banana production and post harvest status was conducted on 286 farmers and farmers associations in most producing areas of East, West, North and Southern province of Rwanda. Results showed that more than 29 banana varieties are cultivated. The main signs of mature banana ready for harvest were the banana starting to ripen, banana fingers big enough and small male buds. The long sunny season (June-August) was indicated as harvesting period. Each farmer harvests around 30.9 banana bunches per month and that most of the brewing bananas are processed into banana juice and beer. It was noted that banana processing is done traditionally with less cleanliness and that improvement of the technology is highly needed.

Most of the cooking bananas are sold at 21.58 FRW per kilogramme but also there is a certain amount of cooking banana which is consumed. Dessert banana are also either consumed or sold. Farmers encounter constraints of not being able to store mature bananas due to their perishability and this leads to selling banana at a very low price during overproduction period. Only few farmers associations are exporting dessert bananas to Europe and neighboring countries. Banana leaves, stems and peels are used as animal feeds. The majority of the farmers do not have easy access to the market of raw bananas or the processed products such as banana juice or beer. This leads to the use of non processed and non sold bananas as for manure preparation for banana fields.
Although banana is traditionally processed and that there is limited access to the market for raw banana and banana products, banana was considered as a very important crop as it brings cash to the farmers.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The Scientists’ team would like to thank the Rwanda Community surveyed for their support and encouragement during data collection. We took quite a lot of their time for which we are grateful. We believe that they will continue with the same zeal as we enter in the next steps of the findings towards this research, so that together we can address the identified constraints for the benefit of the farmers in particular and the rest of the partners in general. Our thanks are also directed to different Sectors administrations for arranging the field visits and for allowing some of their staff to work with us. The support of BARNESA/CIALCA/ISAR Project enabled us to implement the task without financial troubles. On the same note we would like to thank the entire accounting and administrative staff of ISAR for logistical support.

Announcements

ICT4D Internship Opportunity at CTA

Internship Opportunity at CTA: Information and Communication Technologies
for Development (ICT4D)

The Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA), an international organisation based in Wageningen, The Netherlands has an opening for one intern for a period of approximately 6+6 months to work as a member of CTA’s ICT Innovation Team. The CTA ICT Innovation Team has the mandate to monitor ICT innovations and propose these to CTA management and partner organisations for consideration and adoption.

CTA’s mandate puts emphasis on facilitating access, exchange and dissemination of information in the fields of agriculture and rural development. Therefore, optimizing its online presence is of paramount importance. At present the ICT Innovation Team has embarked on a series of related initiatives.

Duties

Under the guidance of the Coordinator of the ICT Innovation Team (the mentor), the Intern will carry out the following activities:

1. Assist in monitoring CTA online presence and the use of its online resources;
2. Assist in managing and / or developing online resources;
3. Contribute to the improvement of CTA’s online visibility and services delivered;
4. Appraise innovative Web 2.0 applications;
5. Moderate existing and new online communities;
6. Perform other tasks as requested by the mentor.
   

Profile

1. University degree in ICT4D-related disciplines;
2. Familiarity with and experience/keen interest in the area of ICTs issues as well as African Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries;
3. Maximum 30-year old;
4. Recently graduated;
5. Familiar with African Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries;
6. Fluent in written and spoken English or French; and ability to work in the other language.
7. Proficient in information and communication technologies;
8. Good organisation, inter-personal and communication skills;
9. National of either one European Union member state or of one of the 79 ACP (Africa, Caribbean, and Pacific) States.
   

Interested candidates should submit the documents listed below to intern@cta.int and enter the following text in the email subject field: [ict4d internship application]

• Curriculum vitae
• Scanned copy of the university degree(s)
• One-page letter explaining why the candidate considers that he/she is in a position to successfully contribute to project implementation and what he/she expects to gain from the internship. The date of earliest availability should be specified as well.
• Two letters of recommendation and/or references.
  

Deadline for submission:
March 20, 2009


Note: More information on CTA Internship programme is found here .

International Potato Center (CIP)

Position Announcement

Ref. 09-01 PO/NRS/SSA

Project Officer

The Center: CIP is a not-for-profit international agricultural research organization with a global mandate to conduct research on genetic resources of potatoes, sweetpotatoes, and other Andean roots and tubers, crop genetic enhancement and improvement, integrated crop management and sustainable management of natural resources and urban agriculture. CIP’s vision is to contribute from its areas of expertise to the fulfillment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), in particular those goals that relate to poverty, hunger, child and maternal mortality, and sustainable development in rural and urban systems. CIP has its headquarters in Lima, Peru with staff and activities in locations across Africa, Asia and Latin America. CIP is a member of the Alliance of the CGIAR Centers, a network of 15 research centers mostly located in the developing world and supported by more than 60 donor members.

The Position: Project Officer: Rwanda

The International Potato Center is seeking a project officer based in Ruhengeri, Rwanda, to work on a USAID funded project aimed at improving the production of Irish potato seed in Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda. The Project Officer will work closely with the national potato program of Institut des Sciences Agronomiques du Rwanda (ISAR) to establish a new seed production technique (aeroponics) as well as liaising with other project partners in Rwanda, including Catholic Relief Services (CRS). The Project Officer will be responsible for co-ordination of project activities within Rwanda, including preparation of quarterly reports and management of project finances. The project officer will report to the CIP Regional Research Fellow based in Kabale, Uganda, and will have access to the CIAT office in Kigali. The position will be based in Ruhengeri and is for a period of 20 months.

The successful candidate will require:

• Master’s degree in agricultural or horticultural sciences or Bachelor’s degree with at least 5 years of field experience.
• Proficiency in English and French (written and spoken)
• Experience of working with Irish potato, irrigation systems or screenhouse production of horticultural crops.
• Experience of project financial management and writing progress reports.
• Experience of working with smallholder farmers.
• Proficiency with common computer applications (Word, Excel)

Applications: Interested applicants should apply by email, sending a brief cover letter summarizing their interest and qualifications for this position, a full C.V.outlining education, relevant experience (including language proficiencies), and the names and contact information of two referees to B.Lemaga@cgiar.org. The reference name of the position should be clearly marked in the subject line of the email message. Applications should be submitted by 19 February 2009.

To learn more about CIP please visit http://www.cipotato.org.

CIP seeks diversity and gender balance in its staff.