Farmers are protesting over the low prices offered for their produce by the new cassava plant in Ruhango district, Rwanda Today has learnt.

The Rwf7 billion-worth Kinazi cassava plant, in Ruhango district, was inaugurated in May this year by President Paul Kagame. The plant is now producing around 20 tonnes of cassava flour and looks set to double its output by the end of next year.

However, many of the residents of Ruhango are declining to take their fresh supply of cassava to the plant because of the low prices offered.

“How can I take my cassava to the factory for only Rwf50 per kilo, while other places are offering Rwf180 per kilo?” asked a Kinazi resident, who sells his cassava at Kinazi market.

“Some unscrupulous sales people are giving the cassava farmers misleading information so that they end up selling hectares of cassava,” said Robert Runazi, managing director of Kinazi cassava plant.

In the Mayaga region, cassava harvesting involves peeling the cassava, fermenting it in water for three days, drying and selling it either whole or after having already milled it.

However, the Kinazi cassava plant cuts out the tedious fermenting and drying process. They go to the farm, harvest and weigh the fresh cassava, then pay Rwf50 per kilo.

However some farmers do not mind the process because it enables them to get more money for their cassava.

“The plant is exploiting us since it ignores our efforts,” said Nzarora Emmanuel from Kinazi, who sold his dried cassava for over Rwf180 per kilo last week. His neighbour said he has been involved in cassava selling for almost three years.

Every week, he sends a pickup to the villages around Kinazi and Ntongwe sectors, which bring back two tonnes of fresh cassava, which he ferments and dries.

Afterwards, clients from Kigali come to his farm and pay Rwf150 per kilo of dried cassava. He said the business has helped him to buy three cows, build a house in the Kinazi neighbourhood and buy land where he also grows cassava. “I can’t sell my cassava to the factory and I never will,” he said.

Co-operatives of cassava growers are also not convinced about selling to the factory. One member of Mbakungahaze, a co-operative of 100 members, acquired a loan of Rwf17 million to grow cassava on 16 hectares. This member said he would sell his cassava to the factory if it paid Rwf100 per kilo.

“We asked the plant officials to come and discuss with us the matter of prices, but they declined to meet us. Working with co-operatives would insure the factory gets a good deal,” observed Prosper Ahishakiye, vice president of the national cassava growers federation.

On a reported lack of collaboration with suppliers, Robert Runazi, managing director of the Kinazi cassava plant, said they are looking at ways to enable farmers to directly supply the factory.

“As of now, the farmers cannot measure the quantity of cassava in a plantation, they cannot manage a collection point or safely transport the cassava to the plant,” said Mr Runazi.

Mr Runazi says it costs time and resources to create awareness among farmers about the desirable varieties of cassava because not all types are good for making flour.

The plant came in as a strong competitor to traders in Ruhango and Kigali.

Mr Runazi defends the prices offered by the factory, saying they are fair considering the cost of harvesting and packaging the cassava.

He cites, among other expenditures, the cost of transport, packaging and wages for the work force, which reportedly includes foreigners as local technicians are not used to the new machines. Mr Runazi also pointed out that 3.5kg of fresh cassava only make a kilo of flour.

Referring to the quality of the flour from the plant (priced at Rwf500), which he said is of a high standard, the official warned that a time might come when the Rwanda Bureau of Standard will not allow others in the area to sell cassava products.

Minister of Trade and Industry François Kanimba says the factory cannot stop cassava growers from selling their products to whomever they want, but he added they are looking at ways to ensure the plant has a ready supply of cassava.