Rwanda: Government moves to probe sharp increase in potato prices

Published 2022년 9월 14일

Tridge summary

The Ministry of Trade and Industry in Rwanda is investigating the cause of a significant increase in the price of Irish potatoes, as well as other food items, with a report due in five days. The rise in potato prices is attributed to heavy rainfall followed by long dry spells, which have resulted in a low yield. Other factors include the high cost of potato seeds and fertilizers, which have led some farmers to abandon potato cultivation. The Consumer Price Index shows that the cost of food and non-alcoholic beverages in urban areas has risen by 29.2% compared to the same period last year. The government is considering exempting some locally processed foods from Value Added Tax (VAT) to help control prices and make them more competitive against imported food.

Disclaimer:The above summary was generated by Tridge's proprietary AI model for informational purposes.

Original content

The Ministry of Trade and Industry has deployed teams across the country to inquire into factors behind drastic rise in Irish potato prices among other food prices to the extent that has been recorded for the first time, The New Times has learnt. "We have sent teams to the field. We will have a report this coming Friday after properly understanding the factors behind the price increase," confirmed Jean-Chrysostome Ngabitsinze, the Minister of Trade and Industry while speaking to The New Times. Donathile Mukeshimana, a farmer from Nyange sector of Musanze district attributed the spike in prices to heavy rains which were followed by prolonged dry spells. According to her, the yield is at its lowest in as many years. "Currently a kilogramme of potatoes which are even of poor quality goes for Rwf400 at the farm gate and over Rwf500 in urban areas such as Musanze town It is the first time we are experiencing such hike," she said. In Kigali, a kilo goes for about Rwf600 which consumers ...

Source: All Africa