There is hope that wheat farmers will soon benefit from both wheat output and its residues which will be transformed into building materials like construction bricks and other products once a new factory at the Special Economic Zone begins operations, according to Tony Nsanganira, State Minister in the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources.

In an interview with The New Times on Friday, he said there were many initiatives to increase wheat production such as land consolidation and use of hybrid seeds and fertilizers.

"We are cooperating with a German company, "Strawtec” to buy farmers’ wheat stems and produce building blocks from them. Farmers are negotiating prices and the factory activities will  begin once farmers harvest and supply the materials during this season A,” Nsanganira said.

He added that the ministry was working with wheat cooperatives to help them get markets for their produce and at better prices.

The minister said most farmers face challenges during the dry season but said government had  launched an irrigation subsidy scheme to increase wheat output and other crops by reducing dependency on seasonal rains. Farmers welcomed the new processing initiative.

 "We have been growing wheat for several years. We would leave some stems as manure and others to thatch our cowsheds but most were unexploited since we did not know they could be turned into building blocks and earn us extra income. This is an amazing important project,” said Frodouard Munyemanzi from Copakopi wheat cooperative in Gataraga Sector, Musanze District.

"During harvest season, we get between Rwf300 and Rwf350 per kilogramme of wheat. We expect the prices to increase as we get more dealers or processing plants,” he noted.

Theoneste Nzanzimana, another farmer from Shingiro Sector, also in Musanze, said prices should be at least Rwf400 or Rwf500 per kilogramme of wheat as the crop   requires a lot of efforts and time to grow. Wheat has two planting seasons per year, each taking four months, and highland soils are most suitable especially in the Western and Northern provinces.

Camille Hodari, the agronomist in Musanze District said they were supplying new varieties of seeds to increase output, adding that when all necessary inputs are utilised; four tonnes can be harvested from one hectare, double the current two tonnes.

Farmers say they have started negotiations with the new factory where one kilogramme of wheat stems will be sold at Rwf27 but could later be increased.

It is estimated that 1.5 tonnes of wheat stems can be produced per hectare, according to cooperative members.

Currently, Rwanda has 55,000 hectares of wheat, scattered in 11 districts across the country with only two major processing plants (Azam and Pembe). It is in third position as far as the East African region is concerned, behind Kenya and Tanzania, respectively.

Over 80 per cent of the wheat consumed is imported, costing the country about $13 million annually.