CIBITOKE, April 3rd (ABP) – In a press release, the management of the Cibitoke Provincial Office for the Environment, Agriculture and Livestock (BPEAE) calls on users of the irrigation network from the Nyamagana intake, in Rugombo commune, Cibitoke province, to pay their water charges without delay, and above all to respect the cropping calendar for the 2025 B cropping season.
For Edymond Uwobikundiye, in charge of production, plant protection and human food at the Cibitoke BPEAE, respecting the cropping calendar is gradually becoming standard practice for farmers in the irrigated area.
As a result, maize and, above all, rice production was high in 2025. According to the same official, rice production has doubled or even tripled for the 2025 A growing season. In addition, there has been a shortage of rice drying areas and storage sheds. That has forced some rice growers to use streets or schoolyards to dry their rice crops. The BPEAE production officer is asking members of cooperatives to think about extending their storage sheds. He also asked those involved in the sector to support the construction of new sheds and drying areas. That said, he again encouraged farmers to respect the cultivation calendar for all users of the irrigation canals, from the intake on the Nyamagana river. For farmers outside the irrigation canals, it is necessary to consider completing the semi of the 2025B cropping season, but also to give priority to crops that do not require a lot of rain.
However, for others, rice transplanting should not go beyond 15 April 2025, according to the same official. As a result, there will be no grumbling towards the end of August and beginning of September 2025, when the irrigation water will have to be cut off to cope with the cleaning and maintenance work on the irrigation canals.