National

Market:Firm buying from local farmers

In a bid to improve the quality of milk and meet its high demand, Inyange Industries, the country’s largest food processing company, is set to introduce milk dispensers. They will allow consumers to access processed milk at a low price.

According to a statement from Inyange, the dispensers will be strategically located with the company’s new distributors enabling consumers to buy whatever quantity they desire using their own containers.

Once operational, the consumers will be able to buy processed milk at Rwf400-450 “ which provides a better alternative to buying unprocessed milk locally known as (amasukano) at Rwf 300-350 which has no value addition and still poses a significant health risk to consumers,” the statement read.

The development comes after supermarkets and shops around the country recently complained of a shortage of pasteurized milk from Inyange Industries, leading to a hike in prices. The shortage was attributed to disagreements between the dairy farmers and Inyange; the farmers claimed that they were getting little money for their milk.

In yesterday’s press release, Inyange said they would pay Rwf 190 per litre and that an agreement with the farmers had already been reached.

The move was welcomed by the Manager of the Nyagatare Dairy Farmers’ Union, Fred Muhire, saying it would help in supplying better milk to consumers.

“We will be very happy with the machines. Consumers will be getting clean milk unlike that sold at various cooling machines,” Muhire said.

To curb the shortage of milk, Inyange and Nyagatare Dairy Farmers’ Union signed an agreement which stipulates that a minimum quantity of 35,000 litres of milk would be

supplied by the Union on a daily basis at a cost of Rwf190 per litre.

According to Inyange’s management, the move will also ensure that retailers do not take advantage by hiking prices in order to increase profits, especially during dry seasons or periods of milk shortages.

Contact email: fred.ndoli[at]newtimes.co.rw