Maize farmers say the price tagged to a kilogram of maize is not in commensurate with the efforts expended in the growing the crop.
This manifested yesterday during talks held between the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources, representatives of maize farmers’ cooperatives and institutions in charge of buying maize harvest seeking together how to collectively find markets without hurdles.
Members of the Rwanda Grain and Cereals Corporation (RGCC) explained that it doesn’t pay below Rwf 170 or 180 depending on the quality of maize adding that the price is determined based on information from farmers.
“We first talk to farmers before signing agreements with their cooperatives to buy available harvest,” said Bahati Wenceslas, the CEO of RGCC.
East African Commodity Exchange also said that they pay between Rwf 160 while the and 185 depending on maize quality.
The president of Rwanda maize farmers association, Evariste Tugirinshuti said that the price does not match efforts of farmers and requested to raise the price to Rwf 200.
“We have realized that a farmer invests between 145 and 163 per kilo. We would rather a farmer be paid Rwf 200 to avoid losses,” he said.
The Minister of Trade and Industry Francois Kanimba said that the price ceiling for maize is Rwf 170 per kg.
“We sat together with farmers’ cooperatives and produce buyers. We realized that the investment of a farmer ranges between 120 and 140 per kilo and confirmed that the price must not go below Rwf 160,”he said.
He said that paying a farmer between Rwf 170 and Rwf 180 ensures that they do not incur losses. Maize from Uganda, he said, is bought at between Rwf 170 and Rwf 180 per kilo.
The Ministry of Agriculture revealed that 908,723 tons of maize are expected in the agricultural season 2016 A.
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