NGOMA – Rice farmers in Karembo sector in Ngoma district, operating under a cooperative known as CORIMI, say their future looks bleak due to the falling rice prices and the lack of market for their produce. Speaking at a farmers’ meeting, the cooperative society chairman, François Mutabazi, disclosed that the company that was supposed to buy the farmers’ rice bought only 22 tonnes instead of the agreed 70 tonnes.
NGOMA – Rice farmers in Karembo sector in Ngoma district, operating under a cooperative known as CORIMI, say their future looks bleak due to the falling rice prices and the lack of market for their produce.
Speaking at a farmers’ meeting, the cooperative society chairman, François Mutabazi, disclosed that the company that was supposed to buy the farmers’ rice bought only 22 tonnes instead of the agreed 70 tonnes.
"We are disappointed by the kind of buyers we have,” he said.
"We are however bargaining with some farmers’ banks such as Vision Finance, to take over the middleman’s role.”
Déo Hakizima and several other farmers said they sold their rice at a give away price of Rwf250 per Kg instead of the usual Rwf 600 per kg.
Hakizima blamed the cooperative for not buy ing the farmers’ rice.
"I don’t know why they leave us to suffer with our produce. They should be the primary buyers, but unfortunately they are pushing us around,” he said.
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