Rwanda’s Ministry of Agriculture has one of the most important tasks in the government and has a wide range of programmes in good measure. From the Crop Intensification Programme (CIP), One-Cow- per. Family, irrigation and mechanization, post harvest handling storage and many more. All are geared towards promoting food security and efficiency. With the majority of Rwandans living off the land, the services go a long way in improving the welfare of many. Just this week, the agriculture sector received a €200 million grant from the European Union to help transform the sector. These are just some of the many policies to ensure that the population is cushioned against any food shortages. So, what is it with the recent rise in food prices in some Kigali markets? When the price of vegetables increase by as much as 40% (from Rwf 500 to Rwf 700 per kilo) in just three weeks, then something is wrong somewhere. But authorities need not look far for the causes as it is mostly the handy work of unscrupulous middlemen taking advantage of the looming dry season. But surely, can there be a shortage of tomatoes with the hundreds of thousands of hectare of swamps and marshlands that make up this country? Concerned authorities should come to the rescue of city dwellers who are being ripped off in the name of greed. In the past the government had addressed the issues of crafty middlemen effectively, it should take off its gloves again and bring them back in line.
