With increasing prices of natural organic oils on the world market, producers in Rwanda are positioning themselves to cash in on the boom.

The producers plan to increase export volume from the current 100 kilogrammes of organic geranium oil to 500 kilogrammes. 

Each kilo of this plant fetches $150 per on the world market.

"So you can count how much we are going to get when we export 500 kilogrammes,” Hitimana said. Nicholas Hitimana, the managing director Ikirezi Company, a firm spearheading the production of organic oils in the country projects to earn  $75,000 (about Frw41.56m).

Geranium plants produce oils used in the making of cosmetics, fragrances and aromatherapy.

Ikirezi has three cooperatives – comprising of 150 farmers. Widows and orphans comprise 94 per sent of current members of Ikirezi company.

Ikirezi purchases the harvested plant materials, distills the essential oil, and markets the finished product.

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