Rwanda: The government raises maize prices to offset farmers' losses

The government has raised farm gate maize price by 5 per cent in the wake of a shortfall in production occasioned by prolonged drought in the Eastern province -- the country's leading producer of the crop. The Ministry of Ministry of Trade and Industry recently fixed the farm gate maize price at Rwf237 per kilogram, up from Rwf226 that was fixed in February last year. The drought which ravaged parts of the country in recent months disrupted maize production and harvest, forcing the government to release food relief to over 36,000 households. The price review was arrived at following government consultation with major players in the maize value chain, the Minister of Trade and Industry, Béata Habyarimana, said. The ministry says that prices are also set based on the investment made by farmers in order to cushion them from potential losses. The new price factors in the cost of farm inputs such as fertilisers as well as the anticipated weather effects, said Cassien Karangwa, the ...