By Civic Ahumuza
Beneficiaries of the Parish Development Model, PDM, in Kagadi District say the programme has improved their livelihoods.
Emmanuel Habyarimana, a resident of Kasasa Parish in Buhumuriro Sub-County, says he received one million shillings under PDM and invested the money in banana, coffee and cocoa farming.
Habyarimana says he now harvests about 12 bunches of bananas a week, earning at least 150,000 shillings.
He says the income from bananas has helped him pay school fees for his five children. He hopes to earn more than three million shillings once his coffee and cocoa farms start producing.
However, Habyarimana says pests and diseases are affecting his coffee and cocoa. He is calling for more support from agricultural extension workers and affordable farm chemicals.
Another beneficiary, 67-year-old Josephine Ntahurutaba, says she received one million shillings under PDM in 2023 and added 500,000 shillings of her own money to buy a cow.
She says the cow now produces about 10 litres of milk a day, earning her around 15,000 shillings daily, while part of the milk is kept for home consumption.
Ntahurutaba, who is a widow, says income from the project is helping her educate her children at university.
She, however, says lack of water for her animals and limited access to agricultural extension services remain major challenges.
Ntahurutaba is calling on the government to bring extension services closer to farmers and improve access to water.
Buhumuriro Sub-County agricultural extension worker Stanley Mugyiraneza says some PDM beneficiaries growing coffee are facing diseases, including Coffee Red Blister Disease.
He advises farmers to maintain their gardens, follow proper spacing when planting and establish drainage channels to control fungal diseases.
Mugyiraneza also encourages farmers to attend sensitisation workshops to gain knowledge on better farming practices.
Kasasa Parish Chief Paul Tabaro says beneficiaries who have invested their PDM funds properly are already seeing positive results.
He says the programme has helped improve the livelihoods of many families in the parish.
