MURAMVYA, February 7th (ABP) – Inspired by the vision of Mr. Alphonse Nahimana, founder of the NCDP (Niragira Development Community Project) cooperative, based in Muramvya province, other members of the Burundi Diaspora are following in his footsteps by setting up the NCDP in their native provinces.
One example is Guy Simbabawe, a resident of England, who has just set up NCDP Nahayo-Bukeye to initiate projects linked, initially, to the rehabilitation of banana cultivation, which is becoming increasingly old, according to Janvier Simba, National Director of NCDP Nahayo-Bukeye.
He explained that the head office has been set up on the Giko sub-village, Rweteto hill, where they will exploit the property of over five hectares belonging to the late Paul Nahayo, Guy Simbabawe’s grandfather.
Speaking about the need to rehabilitate banana cultivation, NCDP National Director Nahayo-Bukeye pointed out that banana cultivation is almost dead at the moment. Hence the idea of re-launching quality banana cultivation by replanting old, dilapidated land with manure from hot composts, also known as biofertilisers, and producing new quality banana plants.
Asked whether the NCDP Nahayo-Bukeye has technicians capable of teaching the techniques involved in propagating new banana trees, Janvier Simba pointed out that the NCDP has specialist agricultural engineers, two of whom are working on the project, which starts on Rweteto hill.
The beneficiaries of that project, contacted by ABP, said that the opportunity had come at just the right time, given that the banana fields were old and no longer producing the expected harvests.
Households benefiting from the project are currently being trained in the macro-propagation of banana trees, the construction of germinators and shade, agro-ecological principles and the production of bio-fertilisers, among other topics.