Government says it has dropped plans to partner with private investors in the establishment of the $700,000 (Rwf399.9 million) concentrate plant that will help Rwanda’s horticulture products to compete on the international market.

The move to have the concentrate plant came after it was established that Rwanda’s horticulture products have been limited on the international market because of their unprocessed nature.

Agnes Kalibata, the Agriculture Minister said government decided to quit the partnership in a move geared towards market liberalisation.

"We realised it is better for these local industries to take up the project because they have the capacity. It is government’s wish to liberalise the market,” Kalibata said.

However, she said that government will provide technical support to have the best quality for particular markets.

Information from Rwanda Horticulture Development Authority (RHoDA) states that less than 10 percent of horticulture products from Rwanda are processed.

Due to the growing competition in the local horticulture industry, major soft drink makers   Inyange industries and Nyirangarama enterprise intend to establish their own concentrate plants.

The ministry intends to focus on production, help farmers, develop contact with the industries so that farmers are assured of the market and best product.

Rwanda has sufficient quantities of pineapples and passion fruits with capacity to produce 2,437 metric tonnes of juice per annum.

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