Men arrested over fertilizer deal

MUSANZE - Two traders from Musanze market were yesterday arrested for allegedly selling fertilisers illegally bought from farmers. Over five tonnes of the fertilisers were recovered. The suspects, being held at Muhoza Police Station, were identified as Harerimana J Nepo, and Carcian Twagiramungu. Police accuse the duo of buying fertilisers from farmers and selling them at double the prices under different packages.According to the Muhoza sector agronomist, Flora Uwinowera, every district has a specific agent who stocks the fertilisers from the Ministry of Agriculture and distributes them at subsidised prices to other known agents in each sector. It was reported, however, that the illegal dealers set their own prices, change the packaging of specific fertilisers and supply it in different areas of the country. Major fertilisers in the Northern Province are mainly for Irish potatoes, beans, maize normally sold to farmers at half the market prices. The official supplier in Musanze district, Eugene Gasore Munyaneza, said the illegal traders tend to offer attractive prices to farmers. “Coffee fertilisers are donated by government for free, they instead buy it from farmers, alter the packaging and they start selling it to farmers,” Gasore said. Ends