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Rice farmers are lamenting the lack of a market for their produce
Uwajeneza Donatha
Jul 31, 2024 - 15:46
Rice farmers in the Mwogo swamp say they have lost the market for their produce, which is now spoiling in storage. The District Administration says authorities are working on a solution to the market issue for rice caused, by investors.
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The rice farmers who have highlighted this issue of losing the market for their rice are from the Rwaniro Sector and cultivate it in the Mwogo swamp. Normally, after delivering it to the cooperative, investors would immediately load it onto trucks, pay them, and they would sustain themselves. However, this time it didn't happen that way as the rice lost its market and started spoiling in storage.
One of those affected by this problem told Isango Star, "We continued to deliver it to the cooperative, but the investor delayed in taking it away."
Another said, "The rice is stuck in the storage. As you can see, it is gradually spoiling there, and that is the major problem."
One said, "We have become poor! For instance, we cultivated using our resources because there was no payment to help us farm. Someone who was supposed to pay for their child's school fees hasn't been able to."
"The impacts are significant because when someone farms, they need money to help with other activities and to eat. All these are the consequences we are facing. Our wish is for the authorities to advocate for us and find an investor to come and take that rice because it is spoiling."He added
They also mention that the delay by the investor affects their development and discourages them from farming.
AngeSebutege, the mayor of Huye District, says that as leaders, they are aware of the problem of the rice harvest lacking a market. He explains that the issue was caused by investors who refused to buy the rice due to dissatisfaction with the price set by the government.
He said, "There is a base price that was set for buying rice, but the industrialists did not respond to buying the rice because they said the prices were too high. However, it was explained by the Ministry of Trade and Industry that there are ongoing discussions with traders and industries. We have started thinking about how we can collaborate with farmers and industrialists because rice is also needed for feeding children at school. This is part of the effort to find a solution, but as of now, the solution is still being sought."
The price of rice that investors were dissatisfied with was set by the Ministry of Trade and Industry in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources. The prices are as follows: one kilogram of Kigori rice costs 500 RWF, 505 RWF for medium-sized grains, 515 RWF for long grains, and 773 RWF for Basmati rice.
Farmers wish that if selling the rice is not possible, they should be given the rice to use in their households instead of it continuing to spoil in storage.
Written by: DonathaUWAJENEZA; Author: Rukundo Emmanuel.
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