Police in Huye District are holding a woman after she was found with about 20 tonnes of maize seeds meant for farmers, which she acquired illegally.
Odette Ringuyeneza currently detained at Ngoma Police Station, was apprehended on May 17 after police recovered the seeds in her two separate houses in Huye.
The seeds are distributed by the Rwanda Agricultural Board (RAB) to farmers under the government programme to increase production.
However, it is said that Ringuyeneza had washed the seeds to remove the chemicals and intended to mill them to make maize flour.
Supt. Jean Marie Vianney Karegeya, the District Police Commander of Huye, said that Ringuyeneza’s illegal business first came to light on May 16, when some residents reported the matter to police.
“On Monday, a resident came to police and reported seeing huge quantities of maize seeds being sun-dried at Ringuyeneza’s home in Rukira, Huye Sector and when officers went there, they seized 3.8 tonnes,” Supt. Karegeya said.
“We continued with the investigations and on May 17, we recovered other 16.2 tonnes in Tumba Sector, also belonging to Ringuyeneza, and that’s when she was arrested,” he added.
“She argues that she bought the seeds from someone she doesn’t remember in Mulindi, Kanombe in Kigali but investigations are still under way including taking her to show investigators where she bought them, but also to arrest all those connected to this illegal business.”
According to Justin Ntezimana, the RAB seeds production technician in the Southern zone, this is a loss to the government valued at Rwf41.9 million.
Ntezimana said that a kilogramme of this hybrid maize seeds cost the government Rwf2095, but it is given to farmers on a subsidized price of Rwf520.
“She had already mixed the seeds and dipped others in water; so they can no longer be given to farmers as seeds. This is indeed a big loss. You can imagine one kilogramme of this hybrid is estimated to produce 100 kilogrammes upon harvest. Actually, 20 tonnes can be planted on over 200 hectares because on every 30 hectares, we plant 3 tonnes,” Ntezimana explained.
“Besides, these seeds are chemically treated, and chemicals are dangerous to people. It is almost uncertain that you can wash all the chemicals from the treated seeds; there are big chances that you will be poisoning people,” Ntezimana said.
He further explained that the hybrid seeds (imported) and Open Pollinated Variety (OPV) (selected from local crops) are supplied by RAB to only selected agro-dealers in regions, who equally sale them to farmers at the set subsidized price.
“It is even rare that a dealer is given that quantity, in most cases its less than 20 tonnes.”
Meanwhile, the DPC called upon the public to stand up and protect what belongs to them and report anyone that attempts to temper with their well being.
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