The Minister for Trade and Commerce, Monique Nsanzabaganwa, has urged Rwandan farmers to target the regional market if they are to benefit from Rwanda’s membership of the East African Community.

The Minister made the call while addressing maize farmers’ cooperatives at the ministry headquarters in Kigali yesterday.

She urged the cooperatives to streamline their operations if they are to maximize profits. 

"Don’t only look at the local market, East Africa is open for you to compete with other farmers,” Nsanzabaganwa said.
"Now that Rwanda has enough food, you should also focus on the region.”

The meeting was called to discuss issues affecting their business like, harmonizing market prices, controlling production, and the market of their produce.

Nsanzabaganwa urged cooperatives to concentrate on particular types of farming in order to realize high yields. 

The meeting was attended by other stake holders including the National Bank of Rwanda and investors in agriculture.

Addressing the same meeting, the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Emmanuel Hategeka, called upon the cooperatives to work with banks in order to access credit.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, maize production has increased from 201,600 to 323,000 tonnes.

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