{The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has, through Rwanda Private Sector Driven Agricultural Growth Project (PSDAG), donated five maize drying machines to five cooperatives of farmers from Kayonza and Rwamagana districts which is expected to increase maize value by Rwf 20 per kilo.
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The donations are part of supporting farmers to address post-harvest including drying since they most of the time harvest at the beginning of rainy season that affects the quality of maize and farm-gate prices.
Umuhire Chantal, the officer in charge of promoting agricultural harvest in PSDAG said that the donated maize drying machines will help farmers to address the matter of humidity of maize harvest.
“Drying machines will enable farmers to sell well dried maize and receive a good price since well dried maize fetches extra Rwf 20,” she said.
Umuhire added that the machine will support the existing method of sun drying. The machines use maize stalks and dry 500 kilograms within two hours.
Representative of farmers were tipped on how to use the maize drying machines.
Ngabonziza Egide, the leader of ‘Isuka Irakiza’ cooperative, one of the beneficiaries said with improved quality, better prices will be assured at the local and regional markets.
These machines dry maize using fire burning from maize stalks. Each machine is valued at over Rwf 500,000.
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