Rusizi: Some Farmers Have Yet to Receive Payment for Their Rice Stuck in Storage

Obed Bunani, the former Chairperson of the Bugarama Valley Rice Farmers Association, announced that the payments for rice that had been left in storage due to a lack of buyers have now been deposited into the cooperatives’ accounts, with about 80% of the funds transferred to the farmers’ individual accounts.

He shared this information on October 30, 2024, following elections for the new committee of the Bugarama Rice Farmers Association held at the association’s headquarters in Muganza Sector, Rusizi District.

These elections come after a season during which rice farmers in this valley raised concerns about unsold rice accumulating in storage, a situation reported across all 11 rice-producing districts in Rwanda. The delay in sales stemmed from domestic rice prices being uncompetitive compared to imported rice.

The issue required intervention from President Paul Kagame, who directed the East Africa Exchange (EAX) to purchase the rice for processing companies. However, payments have been slow, leaving some farmers who harvested in June still awaiting payment by the end of October.

Obed Bunani, who completed his two terms as head of the association, expressed pride in resolving the issue of rice that had been left unsold and in initiating the transfer of funds to farmers’ accounts, which is now nearing completion.

He said, “I thank the President of the Republic because he supports us in all of this, but it’s also an honor for us. I’m happy to see that today no farmer can say I left them with unmet needs. No rice is left in storage, and all the funds have been sent to the cooperatives’ accounts, with about 80% now in farmers’ accounts.”

Andre Ukozehasi, newly elected to lead the Bugarama Rice Farmers Association, stated that he will focus on collaborating with other entities to prevent future delays in selling farmers’ rice.

In Bugarama Valley, more than 8,000 farmers are organized into four cooperatives, cultivating over 1,500 hectares across Bugarama, Muganza, Nyakabuye, and Gikundamvura sectors.

Each planting season, this marshland yields over 7,000 tons of rice, generating more than 4 billion Rwandan francs for the farmers.

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