Farmers should not be exploited

Dear Editor, When the Australia’s leading private agribusiness company- ICM Australia, offered to invest in rice production last year, through joint partnership with the Rwandan government, hopes were raised high among rice farmers that they would generously reap from the crop. However, truth dawned on them when they now realise it was a hoax. The ICM was established with the major role of providing a ‘leading’ brand of rice on the market in the country, by applying modern and highly industrious methods of production in order to cut some of the market share of imported rice. But a few months down the road, we are hearing the least expected; rice farmers are complaining over low prices, according to The New Times dated February 7. The farmers are bitter that they are paid peanuts and an effort to bargain on an increase has been to no avail. Considering what it takes to tend rice gardens, and the current market prices of shelled rice; between Frw500 and Frw700, it becomes obvious that the farmers are being exploited. Ironically, the farmers have to endure with the low prices because it was agreed on in the contract. This means that the farmers’ representatives may be held responsible for blindly signing the contract without comprehending the terms. Since ICM Australian company is working with cooperative societies with about 18,000 farmers in the districts of Rwamagana in Eastern and Cyangugu in Western Province means that all these people are suffering low prices. I call upon this sector to be very profitable and share the dividends with members of cooperatives. ICM should translate their high technology they promised while signing the joint venture. If we are to go by the June 26, 2007 article published in The New Times-in which the ICM chairman Dowg Shears promised equitable sharing of returns from rice production, at the launch of their company, then the company has failed on their promise. I therefore appeal to the responsible authorities to consider the farmers’ outcry as a serious situation that needs to be dealt with quickly. The government encourages people to join cooperatives in order to speak with one voice among other factors. RWAMAGANA

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Farmers should not be exploited