The Rwf6 billion cassava processing factory that was opened, Monday, in Ruhango District, by President Paul Kagame, is an initiative that should greatly enhance food production in the Southern Province. While Rwanda has made significant strides in food security over the recent past, thanks to improved farming practices, the country still faces a challenge of managing post harvest as farmers incur losses due to poor handling of produce. To cut these loses, the country will need to aggressively embark on similar projects like the one in Ruhango. Processing plants act as incentives for farmers to produce more as value added to their products enhances their chances of finding markets as well as increasing their profits. Furthermore, the cassava factory in Ruhango has the capacity to process 144 tonnes of cassava per day and will employ approximately 100 people. It will generate more jobs mainly for the local community, including cassava suppliers, hence raising their incomes and helping to reduce poverty. For farmers to fully maximize the benefits from the factory, they will need to work together in cooperatives, build a high bargaining power and take ownership of the initiative and the proceeds.
