RUTANA, May 3 (ABP) – Rice farmers from Bukemba hill, in Bukemba zone of Rutana commune, Burunga province, are called upon to strengthen the maintenance of irrigation canals in order to ensure proper water distribution in rice fields and improve production. This call was made on Monday, April 27, 2026, by the head of agriculture and livestock in the area, Patrick Niyongabo, during community work to clean the canals, in which he participated alongside farmers and local authorities. He indicated that rice is a crop requiring rigorous monitoring, from sowing to harvest, specifying that water must be available in sufficient and balanced quantities across all plots. According to him, poor maintenance of canals leads to blockages, causing excess water in some fields and insufficient water in others, which negatively affects yields.
Mr. Niyongabo also recommended the rational use of fertilizers, the use of improved seeds, the fight against diseases and pests, as well as working in cooperatives for better technical supervision, while insisting on regular monitoring of fields.
After these activities, participants continued community work by cleaning the surroundings of the road linking Rutana to the Moso Sugar Company (SOSUMO).
At the end of this work, the village chief urged the population to maintain the cleanliness of their environment, to promote avocado cultivation with at least twenty plants per household, and to encourage children aged 9 to 14 to participate massively in the cervical cancer vaccination campaign.
The rice farmers who were present welcomed the advice and committed to putting it into practice in order to increase rice production and improve their living conditions.