{{Agronomists are afraid of rise of cost of fertilizers will increasingly go up after the ministry of agriculture and animal resources (Minagri) recently announced plans of opening channels for the private sector to take up the responsibility of importing fertilizers to the country.}}
Last year, MINAGRI decided to completely handover the program to private business enterprises and dealers in the fertilizers business.
Patrick Ngabonziza, an Agronomist who sells fertilizers to small farmers in Gasabo District said that he is afraid that there would be a rise in pricing when the decision is implemented.
Ngabonziza said that today fertilizers like DAP and NPK cost about Between Rwf 500 and Rwf 600 per kilo.
He said that the cost is too high referring to capacity of local farmers.
To date the private sector should form an association that will be responsible for taking up the job of distributing fertilizers and that was formerly done by the ministry of Agriculture and Animal resources.
Distributors will be charged with importing fertilizers and selling out to wholesalers, retailers and individual farmers countrywide.
During a consultative meeting in December 2012, with key partners such as bankers, distributors and farmers representative, it was recommended that the private sector takes full responsibility of the exercise so as to increase the access and distribution of fertilizers.
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