EDITORIAL: Agro-processing can change farmers' fortunes

During this time of the year when bananas are in plenty, farmers often lose millions of Rwandan francs. The most hard-hit are always farmers from the Eastern Province, the main banana growing area in Rwanda. When there is a surplus, the market is usually unable to absorb all the bananas, meaning that farmers take any price or risk their bananas going to waste. An average bunch of bananas presently goes for as low as Rwf1,000 in Kirehe, Ngoma and Rwamagana districts, down from about Rwf8,000 only two months ago, due to a bumper harvest. And, sweet potato farmers are not doing any better. Reports indicate that potato farmers in Gakenke District are selling their produce at giveaway prices because they lack a permanent marketplace. All farmers across the country face these challenges and more, which demoralises them. It also puts programmes aimed at improving agriculture production at risk of being shunned. It is encouraging that Gakenke District is planning to build a modern market for farmers. The local and central government, as well as the private sector and co-operatives, need to promote agro-processing to help address these challenges. With value addition, farmers can sell at a later period when there is scarcity and earn more money from their efforts. Without agro-processing, farmers will continue to work for the middleman and remain trapped in poverty. If bananas that are wasting away in the Eastern Province, sweet potatoes and other produce that are currently going for a song, are processed, everyone will be a winner. There will be more jobs created, the government will get more revenues and farmers and processors will earn sustainable incomes, which will boost people’s standards of living. This is where Community Processing Centres, promoted by National Industrial Research and Development Agency (NIRDA), will come in handy. Now is the time to join hands and end farmers’ woes.

Opinions

EDITORIAL: Agro-processing can change farmers' fortunes