Zamuka – Potato cultivation

Location: Kibyagira, sector Uwinkingi, District Nyamagabe, Rwanda

Project leadtime: 4 years

Requestor: Zamuka Mutegarugori

'ZAMUKA MUTEGARUGORI' is a group of women who has joined together to aim for auto-promotion. The members are all women: some are widow, others single, others cast away from their community, some are seropositive, have aids and the majority did not go to school.

Description of the project:

Potato cultivation in the craters of the mountain range Congo Nile.

The projects aims to multiply the selected potato seed variety Kinigi, on a surface of 1,5 ha over a period of 4 years (2 seasons per year).

There will be cooperation with RAB (Rwanda Agricultural Board) station SIGIRA for the acquisition of basic planting material.  Zamuka will take care of the multiplication. The multiplied planting goods will be sold to farmers and potato producers.

Objectives:

The main objective is to improve the production of planting goods in the sector Uwinkingi and surroundings, i.e.:

• Produce sufficient quality of planting goods
• The storage of planting goods
• Start commercial circuit
• Divide the produced planting goods
• Strengthen the workforce versus production of planting goods

Beneficiaries:

• The members of the association Zamuka Mutegarugori.
• The farmer women of sector  Uwinkingi and surrounding sectors.
• The people in the shelter “Moeder der Armen” in Kitabi.

Budget:

3.144.900 RwFr   (+/- 3.500€)

Risks:

• Climate changes.
• Nature disasters.
• Lack of needed funds to start the project.

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Follow-up of the project

Date: December 4th 2014
 
Name project: Project 58: Zamuka – Cultivation of potatoes

General status:

On December 1st the board of Vleugels van Hoop vzw met the responsible person of the project, Genevievie Uwimana, in Gitarama, Rwanda. The cooperation agreement was signed and the funds were given in cash, being € 3.500.

Progress since last status report:

The project will soon start.

Financial status:

Problems/concerns:

Attached documents (pictures, reçu’s,…):

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Follow-up march 2015

Date: 22/03/2015
 
Name project:  Project 58 : Cultivation of patatoes

General status:

Progress since last status report:

• The association has rented an area of 80 acres (80000 frw), preparation by 160 workers (80000 frw)
• Processing of 40 bags of lime (100000 frw)
• Purchase of manure (8000 kg - 120000 frw) and fertilizers (240 kg - 136800 frw)
• Planting by 18 workers (14400 frw)
• Purchase and supply of seeds (1600 kg - 560000 + 8000 frw)

 
Financial status:

Total cost: 1099200 frw

Problems/concerns:

Lack of seed. We had proposed the kind of KINIGI, but the seeds were not available. Even if available we had not terminated the culture. We chose a different kind, i.e. KRUZA, adapted to the region and the result is good as seen in the photos.

Attached documents (pictures, reçu’s,…):

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Follow-up may 2015

Date: 9/5/2014
 
Name project: project 58 : Zamuka (potato cultivation)

General status:

As we previously have foreseen, we have been lucky that we have found the variety KINIGI, which we had not found for the season 2015A.

Progress since last status report:

The activities carried out since the report of March are numerous, including hoeing (young plants) 11000 RwFr, hoeing (plants ± 2 months) 15000 RwFr, plant health treatment 20000 RwFr. Total of such activities: 46000 RwFr

Financial status:

Problems/concerns:

During the season 2015B there was a lot of rain, we needed seed that could resist such as the kind of KINIGI, this species is very expensive.

Attached documents (pictures, reçu’s,…):

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Follow-up june 2015

Date: June 22, 2015
 
Name project: Project 58 : Zamuka Potato cultivation

General status:
The association ZAMUKA MUTEGARUGORI has grown, potatoes from the end of january to early February (variety KRUZA). These are harvested early june with a good production of 8.2 ton/80 are. Because of the rains, more pesticides were needed, notwithstanding was at least 1.6 ton rot. However, the association did not go bankrupt, on the market is much demand for potatoes, which can be sold to 180F/kg.

Progress since last status report:

• As agreed in december last year we would bring potatoes to the center of Kitabi. We have done that on sunday 14/06/2015. We were 6, including little Emmy and 4 members of the association.
• We have given the Center 300kg of potatoes. We thought of more but the risk of rot is too large. Therefore, we have sold potatoes so that the center could buy : 50 kg of maize flour ; 50 kg beans; 25 kg sugar ; 6 liter oil; a cardboard soap and a cardboard biscuits. Since our members also cultivate fruit we have given to the Center 20kg plums.
• All the members of the Association have been given 50kg potatoes for their own use, a part was sold on the market for saving and the rest is stored as a future seed.
• Conclusion: the production was good, and after a visit to the Center, the association will also in the future donate potatoes to this Center.

Financial status: 3.144.900Rwf

Problems/concerns: Natural risks such as climate change

Attached documents (pictures, reçu’s,…): pictures

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Follow-up november 2015

Date: november 19, 2015
 
Name project: project 58 : Zamuka potato cultivation

General status:
Due to the weather conditions the plans as mentioned in previous report (beginning of september) are not realised (variety KRUZA). This is done at the end of October and early november because of a lack of rain during the previous months. Not only the first field of 80 ares is treated but also the second field of 70 ares (both are rented for two consecutive years).

Progress since last status report:
Notwithstanding the activities are delayed, there is no concern in terms of production, the main problem is sufficient rain and we hope for that now. Another point of interest is that the association has used its own seed, that was previously saved. The seeds are of good quality and the buyers are very numerous, but the association has decided not to sell seed before they themselves are finished planting; except the center KITABI which we have given 50kg. Currently we sell seed to 400 Frw/kg. The association also has plans to grow vegetables like carrot, red onion, peppers, celery and beets

Financial status:

Field 70 Are

It should be noted that the value of the field is not included in the table because this is already paid. The same applies to the seeds, the association has used its own seed : 1400 kg/80 ares and 1200kg/70 ares (or 1kg to 400 Frw).

1. Vegetables

Problems/concerns:

Rain is essential

Attached documents (pictures, reçu’s,…): None

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Images

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Images march 2015.

Clic on the image to see the whole album

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