Gashora, January 23, 2025 – First-year students at the Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture (RICA) celebrated their first conservation agriculture harvest after completing their first term. The first term at RICA provides students with a strong foundation in conservation agriculture (CA), encompassing introductory courses in agriculture, one health, and crucially, hands-on practical farming.
Throughout their first term, students were exposed to CA practices, and were excited to apply its core principles in the fields: minimum soil disturbance, maintaining soil cover, and crop diversification. The application of the new knowledge allowed them to witness the difference between CA and non-CA farming.
The harvest time was a bustling event, involving harvesting maize, threshing and winnowing common beans, grading the harvested beans, and applying crop residues as soil cover. The students’ excitement was palpable, reflecting months of hard work and dedication in the farm dedicated to first year students.
Benie Shanana Dushime, a first-year student, shared, “I never imagined I’d be so invested! This first harvest is incredibly satisfying, and it’s fulfilling to see the results of our work as new students, especially after learning about soil stewardship in class. This experience has left us feeling equipped and empowered, not just knowledgeable.”
Fellow student Mike Eloi Sekirezi echoed her sentiment, adding, “The practical farming course made a huge difference, significantly enhancing our understanding of conservation agriculture and bringing the classroom lectures to life. Our first conservation harvest has boosted my confidence in pursuing a future in agriculture.”
Dr. Ochola Sylvans, the lecturer overseeing the First-Year Farm, emphasized the importance of the practical component in solidifying students’ understanding of CA. He highlighted the significant difference between conservation agriculture practices and conventional farming methods, stating that the students now have firsthand experience to attest to these differences.
“Conservation agriculture isn’t just theory. It’s about understanding soil health, minimizing soil disturbance, and maximizing biodiversity. Our students are learning firsthand the difference between conservation agriculture and traditional methods, and the undeniable impact of conservation agriculture on soil quality and yield.” – said Dr. Ochola.
The enthusiasm demonstrated by the class of 2027 upon their first harvest highlights the effectiveness of RICA’s curriculum in empowering the next generation of conservation agriculture professionals, underscoring a bright future for sustainable agriculture in Rwanda.
