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E-mail Xinhua, November 30, 2024
KIGALI, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- Rwanda launched the Digital Soil Information System (RwaSIS) on Friday, a platform designed to boost agricultural productivity by promoting the use of specialized fertilizers, lime applications and region-specific crop selection.
The system provides farmers with detailed, location-specific information about their soil, including its composition, the most suitable crops to grow, erosion risks, and the correct amounts of fertilizers to use, according to a statement from the Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB).
Speaking at the launch in the Rwandan capital Kigali, Rwandan Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources Mark Cyubahiro Bagabe said the system will help enhance agricultural productivity and improve farmers' livelihoods.
The system was developed based on trials conducted with key crops such as potatoes, rice, maize, wheat, beans and cassava, according to the RAB.
A significant issue has been the use of blanket fertilizer recommendations across different regions of Rwanda, without accounting for the specific needs of varying soil types. This has led to lower crop yields and inefficient use of seeds and fertilizers, the RAB said in the statement.
The trials conducted for RwaSIS generated valuable data that enabled the development of region-specific recommendations. While final tests for maize, wheat, cassava and beans are still ongoing, fertilizer recommendations for potatoes and rice have already been completed.
Farmers can access the system by entering their soil identification, referred to as the Unique Parcel Identifier. The platform then provides tailored information about their soil, crop recommendations, erosion risks, and precise fertilizer application guidelines to enhance yields.
Rwanda's agricultural sector remains vital to the country's economy, with about 69 percent of households engaged in farming and around 400,000 people employed in agri-food systems, according to the Fifth Population and Housing Census (2022). Enditem
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