Muhanga maize farmers reap big from collective marketing

Tilling the land is for many people an unrewarding job. However, so for the hundreds of maize and soya bean farmers in Cyeza sector, Muhanga District in the Southern Province, it is a different story. The farmers, who are organised under the Tuzamurane Co-operative Society, are reaping big out of farming activities in Takwe wetland in Cyeza sector. For many, joining the co-operative has been a life-changing experience that has seen their standards of living and income improve greatly over the past few years. Dieudonné Barihafi, one of the farmers, says they are now able to afford the basics of life and pay bills like medical care and power with ease. He says the farmers now save part of the earnings with local savings and credit schemes. “We are able to acquire loans to invest in other income-generating activities using our savings as security. We are no longer as poor as before and our children go to school since we can now afford paying their school fees,” Barihafi says. He adds every member of the co-operative has a success story to tell. “It’s like we have been ‘born again’. Farming has proven to be our life’s turning point,” he adds. He says in the past five years, he has been able to buy a grain miller worth Rwf800,000 and earns over Rwf80,000 per month from banana sales. “This amount will increase gradually because I have started using better farming methods and inputs which I hope will boost output and income,” Barihafi, a father of six, says. Tabwe wetland covers 100 hectares. The co-operative produces between 40 and 100 tonnes of maize and soya beans per season, according to the officials. The farmers supply the produce to the Rwanda Agricultural Board (RAB), with whom they have a sale contract. Redempta Nishyirimbere, 47, another farmer, says she has built a commercial house worth Rwf5m on top of buying two cows. “This is a good start for me. I’m hopeful that things will get better if I continue working hard. There are many opportunities in agriculture,” Nishyirimbere says. Laurence Nyirandungutse, another resident and farmer in Cyeza sector, says she has built a residential family house, bought a dairy cow (above) and a pig. She adds that presently she is able to pay the family’s health insurance without having to do menial jobs in the neighbourhood. Challenges Though the farmers are thankful to RAB for ensuring a steady market for their produce, they are not happy about the rates. They say the Rwf500 paid for a kilogramme of soya bean and Rwf420 for that of maize grain demoralises them. Some farmers claim the board has not increased the prices for the past five years, adding that payments also delay. “After delivering the produce, we wait for up to three months before RAB pays us. This is too long we need the money to pay workers and address our household problems,” says Venuste Hakizimana, a member of the co-operative. The farmers claim that a kilo of soya seeds is at Rwf800 on the open market, which is almost double the Rwf500 they are paid by RAB per kilogramme of soya beans. The farmers say that according to the contract with RAB, they are supposed to be paid 15 days after delivering the produce. However, some farmers say other buyers pay less compared to RAB. Therese Mukashyaka, another farmer in the area, says last season some of them sold their produce to SOSOMA Industry at Rwf480 a kilo (soya); and Rwf240 for maize. This disparity notwithstanding, the farmers want RAB increase the price and pay them immediately after delivering the produce. Though Innocent Musabyimana, the RAB deputy director general, confirmed there are some delays in effecting payment, he blames farmers. He says farmers who submit invoices that are in order are paid within five days. “We always advise them (farmers) to write invoices clearly and correctly to be paid on time. Otherwise, it takes a long time to clarify those that are not clear, which delays payment,” he said. Musabyimana dismisses claims that RAB pays farmers peanuts. He clarifies that the prices are always discussed and agreed on with farmers and seed multipliers, adding the price has been updated periodically. “Prices were fixed at Rwf500 per kilo (soya) and Rwf420 (maize) after factoring in all their costs and expected profits. It is the most attractive price in the market so far,” he adds. He adds they always urge farmers to acquire loans from RAB approved financial institutions in case they need money to solve urgent problems to avoid selling their produce at giveaway prices.