VI. Herding, Hunting And Trading
HERDING The Banyaremera herd goats, cattle, and sheep. The goats are the greatest in number and of the greatest economic importance. The cattle are more numerous than the sheep and occupy, without a doubt, the first place in social importance.…
V. Land Tenure And Use
Land tenure is a very delicate subject to handle in the historical circumstances that surround land holdings in Remera. First, it must be remembered that no such thing as private property in land existed under customary law, at least not…
Special Crops: Eucalyptus, Tobacco, Coffee
Eucalyptus. — Trees are not a crop in the usual sense of the word, but they are treated here because this will be the only reference to them, and a separate section on forestry is not warranted. According some authorities,…
Groundnuts, Squash and calabashes, Potatoes, °onions, cabbage, tomatoes, Peppers and relishes
Groundnuts Groundnuts are another crop introduced by the Belgian administration and imposed, for their food value, upon the Banyarwanda. Now that such administrative pressure no longer exists, many of the people of Remera have abandoned this crop, or have at…
Squash, Calabashes, Potatoes, Onions, cabbage & tomatoes
Groundnuts Groundnuts are another crop introduced by the Belgian administration and imposed, for their food value, upon the Banyarwanda. Now that such administrative pressure no longer exists, many of the people of Remera have abandoned this crop, or have at…
Sweet potatoes & Manioc
Although not a traditional food and despite the fact that they were painfully introduced by the Belgian administration to alleviate the periodic famines that occurred in Ruanda, sweet potatoes are probably the “foreign” crop that was best received by the…
Bananas: plantain and sweet bananas
In Gisaka, the banana is queen. It tops the list in economic importance and undoubtedly is an essential ingredient in the social life of the Hill; not only is the plantain eaten, but it is the principal source of native…
Beans, Sorghum, Peas & Maize
Beans Nutritionally speaking, beans are the most important crop. They are the largest source of protein for the people of Remera. The people themselves seem to recognize this fact in that they say they have "more strength" when they eat…
The Division Of Labor
The great majority of the Banyaremera follow the peasant's daily routine. The workday in the field is rather short by our standards. It begins at 7:00 and ends at noon. The afternoon is given to "visiting", a strict social obligation…
IV. Stapple Crops, Cash Crops And Other Cultivation
The economy of the people of Remera is one of subsistence. Historically and geographically, Ruanda has been isolated. Its only link with a money economy is that brought in by the Europeans at the turn of the century and that…