Maize farmers receive tips on post-harvest handling

NYAGATARE – Officials from Rwanda Development Organisation (RDO) have called on farmers in Nyagatare District to properly store their maize harvest in order to guarantee good prices.

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

NYAGATARE – Officials from Rwanda Development Organisation (RDO) have called on farmers in Nyagatare District to properly store their maize harvest in order to guarantee good prices.

Nyagatare District is bracing itself for a bumper maize harvest because of the abundant rainfall this season.

At a consultative meeting with farmers, RDO Executive Secretary, Eugene Rwibasira, urged farmers to first consider quality of their production before thinking about prices.

"Quality should be considered in the first place before setting prices. And you should merge your production as part of safe storage,” he said. He commended Nyagatare farmers for embarking on large scale maize production.

Eric Ntukabumwe, an official from Nyagatare Maize Investment Group, promised the farmers that there would be a market for their produce.

"You should produce more maize, as long as the quality is maintained” he said.

During the meeting, farmers cited lack of storage facilities as the main challenge they faced. Maize cooperatives were urged to approach District authorities to grant them temporary warehouse space for their maize.

dan.ngabonziza@newtimes.co.rw