Agri-Business 

Monday, March 24, 2014 

Rwanda targets rice surpluses by 2017

KIGALI, Rwanda - Rwanda has seen continuous growth in rice production which indicates substantial reductions of imports of the crop by 2017.

“This increase has been achieved over the years and is a stable increase and therefore by the year 2017 we expect no further importation of rice to Rwanda,” Claude Ndagano, a specialist with the Rwanda Agriculture Board (RAB)  said.

He is in charge of Cooperative and Marketing Rice program (post harvest).

Ndagano said in 2011 to 2013 June, Rwanda imported over 126,931 tonnes of rice which contributed to an increase in imported expenditure of the country.

 “In 2012 we got over 85,882 tonnes of rice whereas in 2013 June it was 94,362 tonnes which is a big improvement,” he said.

“This was so because of the constant encouragement to farmers to improve on practices and techniques of growing rice, the increase in developed marshland, plus the supplying of fertilizers by the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry (MINAGRI) on a subsidized price hence making them easily accessible by farmers,” he said.

Ndagano said as RAB they have a target of producing over 167,186 tonnes of rice with a consumption need of 137,053 which will see the country with surplus rice hence help stop importation.

“As of 2012, the budget we had of meeting such a target was over $136 million (Rwf 92.5 billion), and so far we have over $ 54million (Rwf37.1 billion), with a need of about $81 million (Rwf55billion) more,” he said.

Rice processors said that imported rice affects prices of local rice since when such rice is brought in it is sold at a low price.

“Pakistan rice for example was sold at Rwf 17.000 per 25 kilograms but since December 2013 it is sold at Rwf14.000 and this has affected both us the processors plus the rice farmers,” Lauren Basabira from Nyagatare Rice mills said.

He said to be able to completely stop rice importation to the country hence promote local rice, heavy taxes needed to be levied on such rice.

However the government of promises to do all that is possible to stop rice importation hence promote Rwandan local rice which will help both farmers and rice processor to develop.

Rwanda has placed  improved agricultural productivity at the centre of its growth policy.

By Agnes Bateta, Monday, March 24th, 2014