Elias’ Journey to Improved Carrot Farming (success story 3)
26-11-2024In the coming weeks, we will share three success stories that highlight Agriterra’s collaboration with Farmer Organisations and the positive impact on farmers' food and nutrition security. These stories will specifically showcase improvements in productivity and income for individual farmers in Ngoma District in Rwanda, achieved through the Ngoma Out-grower Service Company Ltd. This farmer-led business is composed of 4 cooperatives and benefits an additional 13 affiliated cooperatives.
This third success story is about Elias’ Journey to Improved Carrot Farming.
Ndimukarengane Elias, a 48-year-old farmer from Ngoma district, has spent 13 years in agriculture, with 10 of those years working through cooperatives. He has been a dedicated member of the Imbaraga Cooperative since 2015, focusing on horticulture, particularly carrot farming. However, despite his experience and efforts, Elias faced persistent challenges in achieving good yields and profitability from his carrot crops.
Elias carrying out harvesting activity as there is a high demand for his produce
Reflecting on his past farming practices, Elias admits that he and many of his fellow farmers were not planting carrots correctly. They believed that planting as many seeds as possible would result in a larger harvest. However, this approach led to overcrowding, where the carrots competed for space, nutrients, and water, resulting in stunted growth and low productivity. The lack of proper spacing between plants caused most of the carrots to fail, leading to disappointing harvests season after season.
Training and new techniques
In addition to these challenges, many farmers, including Elias, had stopped planting during Season C. They believed the hot and dry conditions of this season were responsible for their poor yields. Out of fear of failure, they often left the land bare, missing the opportunity to utilize their farmland during a potentially productive growing season. This further limited their income.
However, the situation began to change for Elias at the start of 2024 when he received training from Agriterra through the Acting Now project. This training, which focused on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) specifically for horticulture, with an emphasis on carrot farming, was a turning point for Elias. He learned the importance of proper planting techniques, including the critical role of spacing between plants, which would allow each carrot to grow without excessive competition for nutrients and water.
The Acting Now project also established demo plots in the cooperative, where farmers could observe and learn firsthand how to apply these improved techniques. Elias took full advantage of this opportunity, carefully studying the methods demonstrated on the demo plots. He was eager to put these new practices into action and longed for Season C to begin so he could start planting his carrots using the knowledge he had gained.
Fellow farmers in cooperative come to support Elias in harvesting season
Harvesting the benefits of improved farming practices
When Season C finally arrived, Elias was ready to implement what he had learned. As he worked his fields with newfound confidence, he carefully spaced his carrot plants and applied the appropriate fertilizers at the right times and in the right quantities. The results have been nothing short of remarkable.
Now, as the harvest period approaches, Elias has already noticed a significant improvement in his crop. His carrots are thriving, and the demand for his produce at the market has been overwhelming. His family has come together to help with the harvest, as the quantity and quality of the carrots have attracted buyers willing to pay premium prices. Whereas in previous years, the price for carrots ranged from 200 to 400 Rwf per kilogram, Elias is now seeing prices between 400 and 600 Rwf per kilogram, a testament to the improvement in both the quality and the market value of his produce.
Elias with his wife enjoying the produce from there farmland.
Promising Future
Elias believes that this year’s success will have a profound impact on his livelihood. With the increased income from his carrot sales, he plans to expand his farming operations and turn his horticulture efforts into a more profitable business. He sees this as a new chapter in his agricultural journey, one that promises to bring greater financial stability to his family and pave the way for future success.
