Women Empowerment for Sustainable Development

Dear donors we are happy to share with you the quarterly report,

During this quarter the tudy tours have been undertaken by beneficiaries from project, they went to visit Banana tree’s farm at Rwamagana respectively during this quarter.

The first study tours participants have been accompanied by Aspire Rwanda staff and agronomist, the second study tours participants were with agronomist while the for the third Aspire project coordinator and agronomist accompanied beneficiaries.

The aim of this study tour was to learn with demonstration on the field, the production of fruits mostly banana and tamarillo (tomato tree). Apart banana and tomato trees, participants get opportunity to learn how to grow passion fruits and pineapple.

For each crop, participants obtain explanations and field demonstration (economic importance of the fruit, fruit requirements, all agricultural practices from planting to harvesting, and yield). Concerning learning environment, participants traveled in comfortable bus, reach at Rwamagana farmers they were welcomed by farmers staff and get introduction of what happen to their agriculture business, and important to partner with these farmers (high yielding and diseases resistant variety and follow up farmers to take full advantage of agriculture). After the short introduction participant went in the field with Rwamagana agronomist who explained and did field demonstration while participants ask for questions.   We mainly focused on banana production and banana have been studied at different stages (green house stage , one month banana plantation, 3 months banana plantation, six months banana plantation and banana plantation at harvesting stage).

They have done 12 sessions and each session took six hours within 3 months.

All study tours done went well as planned and we expect that the outcome will be positive.

Outcomes:

Indicator 1: the first - 4 sessions 28 out of 29 participants attended

Indicator 2: second - 4 session 29 out of 29 participants attended

Indicator 3: third - 4 session 28 out of 29 participants attended.

Achievement 1: 85 participants know well how to grow fruits, modern production (banana, tree tomato, pineapple and passion fruits).

Achievement 2: study tour goal has been achieved, because participants are incited with fruit project.

The beneficiaries have committed themselves to plant the banana trees because it is a good channel for source of income creation. They will use the pig manure from their pig project that will go directly to banana tree farming. Study tours have been well done and participants are very pleased for this study trips.

Another session of planting training will be carried out on site training before they plant banana and agronomist will spend more time in the field at the farm for more details about fruits production.

We thank you so much for your support on this project and we would like to support in making a difference in the lives of more women.  We encourage you to donate monthly here. Even a few dollars a month will go a long way. Please also share this with your contacts and invite them to consider supporting this ongoing project. Thank you.