Grain farmers to get marketing support

Rwamagana-Rwanda Grains and Cereals Corporation (RGCC), has promised farmers in the Eastern Province a market for their produce.The pledge was made by RGCC coordinator, Augustin Mutijima, during a meeting with farmers’ representatives in the Province.Rwanda Grains and Cereals Corporation is a consortium of government and private sector entities that seek to provide constant markets for farmers’ agricultural produce across the country.According to Mutijima, the corporation will, in the first phase, deal with farmers producing Maize, Beans and Rice.“RGCC is a timely solution to farmers who have been experiencing constant price fluctuations for their products. This is something the government initiated in partnership with the private sector to ensure that all farmers’ produce are constantly bought at a relatively good price,” he told farmers at Dereva Hotel in Rwamagana.According to Mutijima, farmers will, through cooperatives, sign supply and purchase contracts with RGCC at agreed prices.During the meeting, some farmers proposed Rwf 150 per kilogram of maize, while others wanted it set at Rwf 170 .However, the meeting resolved that a fixed price could be determined by the costs incurred during production, including the distance from the cooperative stores.Eric Ntukabumwe, an official from RGCC challenged farmers to consider that the corporation ensures a long-term market for their yields.“In the first place, you should consider that the prices agreed will be long term. This will boost your production,” he said.In an interview, Winflida Mukakigeri, a model farmer in Rwimiyaga Sector in Nyagatare District, commended the private sector and government for considering farmers in their sector.“It is a welcome move that the government and private sector are jointly working together to help boost our farming business…we have been selling our produce at different prices depending on the season, and this sometimes drew us into losses,” she said.