Rwanda National Police spokesperson ACP Boniface Rutikanga has said that a probe into a suspected network of fertilisers and seeds embezzlement has been launched.
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He was speaking during a talk-show on Rwanda Broadcasting Agency, on Sunday, October 8.
"Eighteen agro-dealers have been arrested so far, for embezzling subsidised fertilisers and seeds. We are still investigating the network of those involved,” he said.
He said that some of the embezzled agro-inputs are smuggled into neighbouring countries.
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"They use the system and request a quantity of fertilisers and seeds which farmers didn’t order for, they also request agro-inputs for land that is not arable and then smuggle them into neighbouring countries. We found such cases in Gicumbi and Kirehe districts,” he said.
Thierry Murangira, the spokesperson for Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB), said the embezzlement is committed by forging documents while ordering the agro-inputs in the Smart Nkunganire System.
Smart Nkunganire System (SNS) is a supply chain management system that was built in 2017.
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"They use land UPI of other people without their knowledge and use them in ordering subsidised fertilisers and seeds which they then sell and smuggle them. There are such cases in Burera District where an agro-dealer embezzled one tonne of fertilisers. Between July 2022 and June 2023, we recorded 33 cases and arrested 61 people who embezzled 57 tonnes of fertilisers,” he said.
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Ildephonse Musafiri, the Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources, warned over 3,000 agro-dealers across the country against fraud in subsidised fertilisers and seeds.
"In season A, we use a lot of fertilisers and seeds. Therefore, we are working with the local government to detect fraud cases. Every year the government allocates over Rwf35 billion in subsidies to agro-inputs. This money should benefit farmers,” he said.
In the agriculture season (2023 A) alone, the government allocated Rwf36 billion in subsidies (consisting of Rwf5.16 billion for seeds and Rwf30.84 billion for fertilisers).