Bukoba — KAGERA Region has increased production of food crops from 1,946,938 tonnes during 2005 to 2,837,515 tonnes during 2010, equivalent to 45 per cent increase, the Kagera Regional Commissioner (RC) Fabian Massawe, has announced.

He noted that during the same period, production of cash crops also increased from 58,120 tonnes to 124,746 tonnes, equivalent to 114 per cent.

Mr Massawe said production of coffee slightly increased from 7.2 tonnes per hectare to 9.7 tonnes per hectare (35 per cent), cotton production also increased from 0.6 tonnes per hectare to 0.9 tonnes, cassava from 8 tonnes per hectare to 11 tonnes while banana production increased from 15 tonnes per hectare to 18 tonnes per hectare.

He further said fertilizer application increased from 1,078 tonnes during 2005 to 4,766 tonnes during 2010, equivalent to 342 per cent. The Regional Commissioner said irrigation farming increased from 8,458 hectares during 2005 to 13,022 hectares during 2010, implying a 53 per cent success, adding that the region anticipated to increase the area under irrigation to 16,336 hectares by 2015.

However, the region still lagged behind in the use of power tillers and tractors. He said power tillers increased from only eight during 2005 to 54 during 2010, while tractors increased from 23 during 2005 to 46 by 2010.

Mr Massawe has also urged residents and leaders in the region to ensure that they complete construction of classrooms to enable students selected for Form One this year, attend classes on fixed timetable. He also directed them to start construction of dormitories, laboratories and libraries at their respective secondary schools, with preference to girls' dormitories.

He directed District Commissioners in Muleba, Bukoba, Karagwe, Ngara, Karagwe, Biharamulo and Kyerwa districts to take legal action against males who impregnate schoolgirls.