Although the introduction of modern agriculture skills has dominated local farming practices, some farmers still insist that indigenous ways of planting would be more essential if they were improved.
This is because the majority of traditional practices are still affordable compared to the modern ones which are not only inaccessible but also require some expertise from the farmers.
However, modern skills on the other hand have proved to advance the yield of those using them yet the worry is on the decline of some of the native practices which can fused with the integrated methods.
Xavier Mvuyekure, a farmer in Ngoma district in Gasanga sector explains that he doesn’t bother himself to buy pesticides since he can fight the pests through traditional methods which are far much affordable.
“In case of a tomato or potato infection, I spray my plants with a fluid derived from garlic, soap jell and pepper, it really works like magic since within a few days change is seen on my crops,” he comments.
This is not enough, Mvuyekure boasts of knowing several traditional measures to fight pests: “With bananas for instance, after harvesting a banana which is joined to another stem, I make sure I cut its roots then later on I use a leaf or a polythene paper to cover the cut part, the trick is to avoid pests often formulated in the soil to affect the remaining banana plant” says the farmer.
Moreover, Crop rotation is another organic farming practice that enables consecutive planting of different crops on the same land in order to improve soil fertility as well as control insects and pests.
Another interesting traditional practice is the use of manure which is effective in several types of crops. Dr. Jean-Pierre Busogoro, the Technical Assistant at Belgian Development Agency (BTC) insists that the best homemade manure should be decomposed for six months and above.
“The longer the decaying process, the more the nutrients become efficient. Another thing farmers need to note is that during planting the seed is mixed with manure in order to facilitate an effective germination,” he advises.
The use of indigenous skills does not only improve the yield but also traditional seeds are important too since most of them interact well in the local soil.
However better farming skills are essential. Dr. Busogoro highlights that in bananas for instance the Rwanda’s Injagi type would do better compared to the FHIA 25hybrid banana if proper planting and cultivation practices are adhered to.
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