Kirehe sets maize prices as buyers complain

EASTERN PROVINCE KIREHE — The district has set Frw115 as the official price for a kilogram of maize. This ceiling referred to as the maximum price legislation is the price at which farmers in the district will sell and purchase their produce. Speaking at the official launch of market price, on Wednesday, Kirehe district Mayor Patrick Nkunzumwami said the price was set by the district as fair for both farmers and buyers. He said that they had to agree on the price so that neither the farmers and the buyers could be cheated. Nkunzumwami said, We (Kirehe district) are among the few districts with maize in big quantity and buyers should not cheat us. We know your children are going back to school and you need money to attend to their necessities and for this matter we had to act as soon as we can, he added. The district had earlier banned selling of maize by farmers pending the official price legislation. The district harvested about quarter of 50,000 tonnes which had been projected before the maize was hit by drought. Maize was planted in the six sectors of Murenge, Nyamugali, Mahama, Nasho, Mpanga, Kigarama and Musazo. Nkunzumwami thanked all those who helped farmers in the irrigation exercise most especially RDF soldiers who organized the residents. He however, urged hundreds of maize growers to stick to stocking, saying maize prices were expected to rise. It sounds bad to hear that Kirehe was hit by poverty when actually you did your best to plant and harvested. And by this time we should be having our seeds to be planted for the next season, Nkunzumwami said. He urged farmers to sort out their outstanding debts. The famers accumulated debts from the seeds and fertilizers which they were given on credit. They owe the companies close to Frw70 million in debts. Every farmer will be deducted 30 per cent from his or her sales-about Frw30 from each kilogram sold- to meet the debts. The function held in Mahama sector was attended by among others the US Ambassador to Rwanda Michael R Arietti who had paid a visit to the district to assess the impact of Green revolution. Arietti thanked the government of Rwanda for its efforts in helping its citizens develop economically. It’s a great pleasure to be here (in Rwanda). People of the US are happy and willing to help Rwandans to improve their economic and educational sectors, Arietti said. He added that, Though we help you, but you also have a lot to do to develop. And I hope this is the beginning of the good succession of well being of everyone. I think people of Rwanda should now fight for the harmony of their country.Ends