Rwanda and Burundi receive funds to increase wheat production #rwanda #burundi

Rwanda and Burundi have received a $300,000 grant to help
scale up wheat output in the region.
The grant is from the Association for Strengthening
Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa
(Asareca), a World Bank project.
This was disclosed during the launch of the two-year
project in Kigali this week, expected to kick off next year.
"This is a pilot phase, and we will start with Burera and
Rutsiro districts in the Northern and Western provinces,
respectively," said Josephat Mugabo, the head of the socio-
economics desk at Rwanda Agricultural Board (Rab).
Currently, Rwanda has 55,000 hectares of wheat, scattered
in 11 districts countrywide. With only two major processing
plants (Azam and Pembe), it stands in the third position as
far as the East African region is concerned, lying behind
Kenya and Tanzania, respectively.
According to Innocent Habarurema, the Rab wheat
programme coordinator, over 80 per cent of the wheat
consumed is imported, costing the country about $13
million annually.
Joseph Gafaranga, a wheat farmer based in Musanze
District, Northern Province, complained of low farm gate
prices paid, ranging between Rwf200 and Rwf600 per
kilogramme.
"Farmers invest a lot of time and energy in growing this
crop, so the least they should be paid per kilogramme
should be Rwf400," he said.
Wheat has two planting seasons per year, each taking four
months, and highland soils are most suitable.
"Most local yields are so poor, processors always turn them
down, preferring imports from Kenya," Mugabo added.
He said an average of two tonnes is harvested per hectare,
yet each hectare has potential to produce an average of four
tonnes.
Habarurema said pests like Epilachna are known to destroy
wheat leaves, especially during the dry season, leaving
farmers counting losses.
Efforts:
He said land consolidation is necessary if wheat output will
ever improve, as it is still done on individual plots.
Mugabo said about 150 trainers of trainers last year were
trained on proper wheat farming practices.
"Previously, we were relying on the Ministry of Agriculture
for support, but we are glad that new players like Asareca
are coming on board," Gafaranga said.
Wheat is typically milled into flour that is then used to make
a range of foods, including bread, crumpets, muffins,
noodles, pasta, biscuits, cakes, pastries, cereal bars, sweet
and savoury snack foods, crackers, crisp-breads, sauces
and confectionery