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)