Providing the right kind of information and support will be critical to increasing the uptake of agroforestry in Rwanda.

An article in the New Times reports on a recent dialogue organized by the World Agroforestry Centre to discuss how the Rwanda Natural Resources Authority can achieve its goal of 46,000 acres planted with trees every year.

Adrie Mukashema, deputy Director General in charge of Forestry and Nature Conservation, says most farmers do not practice agroforestry despite past promotion of its benefits.

Jeremias Mowo, Regional Coordinator for Eastern and Southern Africa with the World Agroforestry Centre, believes low participation by farmers in tree planting is due to a lack of suitable seedlings.

"Farmers have shunned tree farming because we have not been giving them the necessary support. They need to be advised on which species they need to plant, where and for what purpose; as well as support in management of the trees,” Mowo said.

Athanase Mukuralinda, a senior scientist in agroforestry, explained how stakeholders are being consulted about how to increase tree planting efforts and farmers are being visited in order to understand their current knowledge of agroforestry and build on this.

Read the full story: New Bid to Promote Agroforestry