Tea farmers in the Services Company Outgrowers Nyaruguru (SCON) project in the Kibeho, Cyahinda, Munini, Mata and Busanze sectors of Nyaruguru district are investing in the long term with interest-free loans. They have started to receive income on a regular basis.
This SCON project provides interest-free credit to farmers to grow tea on unused land. They invest for their offspring.
Philémon Kanamugire is a farmer in Kibeho sector. He is preparing his land to plant tea this season. For him, owning a tea field is a long-term investment. “This 60-acre plot of land was practically useless to me. It had become a pasture for other people’s cattle. I am getting older. This tea field is a legacy for my children,” says Kanamugire.
Alphonse Nkurunziza is another farmer in Mubuga cell, Kibeho sector. He currently has a field of 1.5 hectares of tea trees. He cultivated it in 2018 thanks to this credit. Before this project was launched, his land was not being used. It is too far from his house to be able to transport manure to it.
“It is a piece of land that I have not used for years because it is not fertile. Through the SCON project, I received an interest-free loan and planted the tea. Today I harvest its leaves and during the rainy season I get at least 50,000 Frw every month. We are at the beginning. As time goes on, the tea production will increase,” says Nkurunziza, a local farmer and businessman.
A project for the welfare of the population
SCON’s General Manager, Vincent Hategekimana, emphasizes the importance of the project for the population. “The soil in Nyaruguru is acidic for some crops. However, it goes well with the tea plant. The objective is to raise the economic level of the farmers,” says Director General Hategekimana.
He took the opportunity to call on other holders of unused land in Nyaruguru district to seize this opportunity.
He recalls the role played by President Paul Kagame. The latter convinced the investor to come and invest in Nyaruguru District.
“This programme is the initiative of the President of the Republic. He himself negotiated the British investor,” he reveals.
The provisional mayor of Nyaruguru district, Janvier Gashema, insists on the security factor as a pillar of any development. So he encourages the population to take advantage of this asset to work.
“I encourage everyone to take good care of the tea trees. We want the whole Nyaruguru district to be green and black. Where there is no asphalt road, we can see tea trees, potatoes, beans and maize,” concluded Mayor Gashema with pride.
“Many thanks to the Head of State who has restored security and promoted a good business climate. These factors have made our country in general and Nyaruguru district in particular attractive,” said Gashema.
Since the launch of the SCON project in 2017, nearly 1,000 hectares of tea bushes have been developed. More than 6,500 hectares of fields will be cultivated in the next 15 years with over 12,000 farmers.
Domice Gasarabwe & Gerard Rugambwa
