The dissatisfaction was expressed yesterday as she responded for the second time to the summon of parliament that was not satisfied with provided explanations.
Following unappealing answers last time, Dr Mukeshimana returned to the parliament yesterday with a written response to the 28 questions she had been asked.
The responses were in relation to; inadequacy of multiplied seeds, malfunctioning milk collection centers, agribusiness produce lacking market and irrigation problems where farmers lament over expensive irrigation equipment.
She was asked to provide clarifications on poor implementation of post-harvest handling leading to poor quality produce, lack of market over poor quality standards, high taxes paid by rice farmers in rehabilitated marshlands among others.
Minister Mukeshimana tried to answer some of these questions though parliamentarians were not satisfied.
Concerning ineffective performance of milk collection centers, she explained that most of the matter was caused by inadequate electricity supply that they are working with other institutions to address.
Concerning irrigation problems, Minister Mukeshimana said that Rwanda has 36 500 irrigated hectares in marshlands and on hillsides and designing a master plan to identify areas of priority.
She explained that they are going to work with concerned institutions to fix the issue of high taxes charged to rice farmers in marshlands. These taxes range from Rwf 80,000 to 100,000.
Concerning expensive irrigation equipment, Minister Mukeshimana said that they have introduced Nkunganire program catering for 50% of the cost spent to such equipment.
She revealed that the ministry is putting in much effort to multiply seeds locally . Currently, the country imports 50% of seeds.
Parliamentarians were however not satisfied with the explanations.
“ The first commission pointed out problems, the auditor general indicated that agricultural services don’t benefit farmers, RGB report indicated that citizens are satisfied with such services at below 50% yet you have provided explanations proving how the situation is better. What can we take as the truth?” wondered MP Euthalie Nyirabega.
Veneranda Nyirahirwa observed that there is a need for reforms considering the problems rampant in agriculture yet it is practiced by 70% of Rwandans.
She however noted that reforms cannot be possible if there is no acknowledgement of existing problems.
“Based on provided answers, it seems like all problems in the agriculture sector are fixed yet it is not the case. When we visited farmers; they had a serious problem of seeds and fertilizers. The produce cannot be good while they still plant seeds that existed for 11 years like rice,” she said.
Another MP, Marie Thérèse Murekatete highlighted that ‘the number of cattle and the quantity of milk don’t match. We have the problem of malnutrition among children.’
Only 26 of 66 MPs who attended the hearing were satisfied with explanations from MINAGRI.
They agreed on establishing a special commission to investigate problems in agriculture and livestock farming of which outcomes will be reported to the general assembly.
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