Two beverage mini-factories are expected to become operational next year in the Southern Province as local leaders seek to develop skills and investments in agriculture to keep factories running.

A banana wine mini-factory is set to be up and running at full capacity early next year, while a sorghum beer brewery will follow.

However, local leaders say they will need to boost skills and investments in mechanised agriculture and cooperatives in order to ensure regular supply of raw materials for the projected factories.

Southern Province Governor Alphonse Munyentwari revealed these challenges while visiting Asia Technology Limited, an agricultural tools factory in Daegu, Korea. He is in Korea to attend the four-day Global Saemul Leadership Forum that ends today.

Speaking to The New Times, Governor Munyentwari extolled the benefits of mechanized agriculture, saying that it would lead to the development of both the manufacturing and food processing industry.

Speaking about the planned banana wine factory, to be located in Gisagara District, as an example, he said that not only would it employ many locals, it will also inspire the development of a model of agriculture that is business-driven and sustainable.

"We have already facilities in place; the machines were set, the managers and technicians were careful selected and trained because we believe this will have a big impact on people’s daily lives at the same time contribute to the economy,” he said.

According to the governor, the factory is expected to minimize production and consumption of illicit drinks in the area that had been putting people’s lives at great risk, while at the same time enhancing the standards of local products on the market.

"The wine is set to be of high standards unlike some that have been putting people’s lives at peril, and our intention is to create a supply mechanism to reach a big number of consumers which will, in turn, expand the tax-base,” he added.

Agricultural mechanization still problematic

Despite the Government’s efforts, mechanization of agriculture in Rwanda is still challenging.

The Auditor General, Obadiah Biraro, recently pointed out that a number of districts, including Bugesera, had procured heavy machinery yet the tractors were lying idle causing the government into billions of losses.

Talking to The New Times, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Local Government, Vincent Munyeshyaka, said that some of the procured machines started experiencing problems in the pilot phase.

"There was lack of proper maintenance although it was still at the piloting phase. We have learnt that machinery requires regular monitoring and need to be adjusted with respect to type and area of land.

"Some of the tractors were not appropriate for use on our terrain and shortly started to break down which called for a proper follow up. In the future, we will institute a robust approach to mechanised agriculture that is durable and less costly,” he said.

On whether the government might import new machines from South Korea, Munyeshyaka said that such a decission would be taken by the line ministry.

Since 2011, the government acquired around 370 tractors and power tillers at a total cost of USD4 million (approx. Rwf 3 billion).

It is expected that before 2017 at least one in every four Rwandan farmers will be using mechanisation services.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw