Anticipated benefits include more predictable markets and ease of access
to agro-inputs and reduced post-harvest losses. PHOTO | FILE | NATION
The Agriculture Ministry is working with the International Fund
for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and the Food and Agriculture
Organisation to develop a value chain that will support contract farming
for Irish potato growers.
Anticipated benefits include more predictable markets and ease of access to agro-inputs and reduced post-harvest losses.
IFAD
and FAO will be responsible for equipping the farmers with skills and
setting up the operational framework of the project while the Ministry
of Agriculture will play the role of observer.
Attaher
Maiga, the FAO country representative, said the programme is expected to
push lenders and insurers to support the agricultural sector.
“We
are pushing for contract farming, because it is one of the proven
mechanisms that can be used to improve efficiency and smallholder farm
inclusiveness in food and agriculture systems because it addresses many
of the challenges they face such as access to inputs, modern
technologies, finance as well as markets,” said Mr Maiga.
The
contracts will guarantee price, quality and the quantity of the
agriculture commodities to be supplied by farmers at predictable
intervals.
The initiative comes after failed attempts in the past which
have made farmers sceptical. Last year, a contract between KOABIKI — an
Irish potatoes growers’ cooperative in the Northern Province — and
Regional Potatoes Trading Ltd collapsed, leaving the farmers stranded.
“We
have no reliable market, because Regional Potatoes Trading Ltd, who had
been contracted to collect our produce failed to abide by the contract
provisions. We are now more cautious about entering into any other
contracts,” said KOABIKI president Chantal Mukeshimana.
Koabiki now mostly depend on Giticyinyoni, a popular Irish potatoes market in Kigali, for buyers.
Irish potato growers now hope that this new initiative will bring price stability to the market.
Government officials said after Irish potatoes, they hope to extend contract farming to other crops such as rice.
Telesphole Ndabamenye, the head of crop production and Food Security at the Rwanda Agriculture Board, said the scheme also has benefits for consumers.
“Buyers will be assured of regular supply that meets the required quality requirements at predictable prices,” said Mr Ndabamenye.
Currently potential buyers such as hotels and supermarkets import most of their supplies because of uncertainties around price and quality.
Other than connecting farmers to the market, officials from the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources said the scheme is set to easy the inflow of financial and agro inputs.
Telesphole Ndabamenye, the head of crop production and Food Security at the Rwanda Agriculture Board, said the scheme also has benefits for consumers.
“Buyers will be assured of regular supply that meets the required quality requirements at predictable prices,” said Mr Ndabamenye.
Currently potential buyers such as hotels and supermarkets import most of their supplies because of uncertainties around price and quality.
Other than connecting farmers to the market, officials from the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources said the scheme is set to easy the inflow of financial and agro inputs.
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