Upcountry insight: Rwanda likely to benefit from ICM rice experience

EASTERN PROVINCE Rwamagana—The energy and sophistication of Rwanda’s rice production will take a seriously leap soon as Australian ICM agribusiness will finish renovations on factories in Eastern Province. Applied sciences and technologies will also be shared with ICM’s Rwanda counterparts in Rwamagana, according to ICM officer Des Whelan. “The long-awaited renovation and installation of new machines is over and we are now in the final stages of starting production, beginning with the first week of October,” Whelan said. “ICM has dealt with a wide-range of agricultural businesses in Australia and other countries, an experience that can benefit Rwanda,” he said. “We are in Rwanda contributing to rice production because the Rwandan government requested participation of ICM in this venture.” ICM has considerable experience in a variety of rice crops and growing techniques. Actual benefits, Whelan said, could include rice-paddy improvements and provision of employment to local communities. Most revered, he said, was that rice could be processed and automatically be improved according to a much higher standard than previously. “ICM is working closely with the Rwanda Agricultural Development Authority to produce quality seeds, which will greatly improve the quality of rice grown in Rwanda. When you produce quality rice in Rwanda your future is very bright,” Whelan said. The factories were formerly owned by the state and under the supervision of the Ministry of Agriculture, charged with growing rice in Rwamagana. The Chinese Government sponsored the same factory before the 1994 Genocide, but was destroyed during the war. In 1999, the government renovated it, but use was stalled because of delayed desires to privatise it. CORUR/RWA was mandated to look after the factory and was given the responsibility to continue sensitization of rice farmers up to 2005, when the government finally privatizes the factory through a joint-venture with Australian-based ICM in 2006. ICM owns 60 per cent of stakes, with COCUR/RWA holding the rest. Theoneste Bikorimana, factory engineer, said installation of machines was finished. New machines, including a dryer, will be capable of producing 4 tonnes of rice each hour. Rwamagana Rice factory employs 27 permanent employees and six casual labourers. There is the possibility of recruitment up to 100 people when production begins. Ends