GATSIBO – Members of Coproriz-Ntende rice Cooperative operating in Rugarama sector, Gatsibo district will soon open a rice processing plant in the area, the cooperative’s chairman, James Karangwa, announced on Wednesday.

Speaking at the cooperative’s general meeting, Karangwa said that the plant, with capacity to thresh 2.5 tonnes of rice per hour, is expected to boost the quality and market of their produce. 

‘We have already forwarded our plant’s project proposal to Rwanda Development Bank and the answer was positive,’ he said.

He also disclosed that this year, the cooperative plans to cultivate rice on 516 hectares of land and increase members to 2000 up from 1062 members.

The cooperative will also set up a credit and savings fund that will help cooperative members, he added. 

During the meeting, members officially distributed dividends on their initial investments.

Marie Gorret Cyomuzaza, one of the members appreciated the profit, and hailed the cooperative for promoting rural residents. 

The cooperative is jointly financed by the United States for Africa Development Fund, USADF and Rwanda Rural Sector Support Project (RSSP). 

The meeting brought together 314 representatives from 25 primary cooperatives that make up Coproriz-Ntende, with the aim of evaluating their 2009 achievements.

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