THE BEAN HARVEST HAS INCREASED IN RUGERA SECTOR

Bean production in Rugera has reached 4.88 tons per hectare, up from 0.8–1.2 tons per hectare, following the provision of improved seeds, fertilizers, agricultural knowledge, and market access support to smallholder farmers.

Smallholder farmers in Rugera Sector, Nyabihu District, say that growing long beans has started to improve their livelihoods, thanks to the support they have received to increase production and connect their produce to markets.

Before the Good People project, implemented in partnership with the District, arrived in the area, bean yields ranged between 0.8 and 1.2 tons per hectare. Today, farmers working with the project report yields ranging from 2.38 to 4.88 tons per hectare, depending on the bean varieties they grow.

Farmers have been trained in proper land preparation, the use of improved seeds and fertilizers, as well as the control of crop diseases and pests.

The project was initially launched to support 80 women, but was later expanded to reach 175 beneficiaries, including 21 households participating in a poverty graduation programme in Rugera Sector.

To reduce post-harvest losses caused by the deterioration of produce, a facility for processing and storing agricultural produce was constructed. It includes a drying area and a communal storage facility that helps farmers preserve their produce properly and deliver it to the market without damage.