During this training, participants were taught about sustainable land management, which is the utilization of land resource in the most profitable manner while preserving its quality to serve the future.
Farmers were trained on simple techniques, such as minimum tillage, use of erosion trough to reduce runoff in the pineapple field, compost application to improve soil fertility, pineapple planting on ridges, and mulching.
In terms of land preparation, farmers were trained on key considerations when identifying a good site for pineapple cultivation. Good sites include well drained sand, loamy soils, ground free of couch grass, and land free from anthills. They also learned about early land preparation. The training was well conducted and participants asked questions on ways to manage couch grass in their pineapple fields, as this is a problem for many of them.
Participants asked to attend the training as a unit, and not in two groups as we had proposed in the training schedule.
The training on planting pineapples was well conducted and participants received a good amount of hands on experience in the field which helped them to fully understand the application of the technologies being taught. This was very much appreciated by participants and the community.
After the trainings, participants are taken for field visits to where pineapple plantations where the techniques they just learned are being implemented. Seeing this manifestation of what they just learned motivates the participants to implement their new knowledge. This is also a good occasion to identify at least one strong association.
Associations are formed to allow the participants to support one another. It will also provide them more benefits than farming individually would. These associations are also used to share and disseminate new techniques among the community.
Participants in preparation of the land of demonstration
Opening session of the training
18 members of the Icyerekezo Project participated in a one week training at RDB’s Masaka branch. They were trained by Juvenal Ndayisenga of the RDB (Rwanda Development Board). The participants learned how to produce juice and balm from different fruits, such as passionfruit, strawberries, pineapples and many others.
Training on fruits processing at Masaka
