Rubavu: Onion Farmers cry foul as produce start rotting in the field
Onion Farmers in Rubavu district are worried about the loss after failing to get buyers of their onion produce which has pushed some of them to keep their onions so that are turned into compost.
Onion Farmers in Rubavu District are asking for help to access the market as they continue to suffer losses.
Hakizimana Emmanuel, a resident of Kanyundo Cell in Mudende Sector in Rubavu District, planted onions on an area of 1 hectare, but now he is worried that the onions are starting to rot in the fields because he is afraid of harvesting them without a market. .
The lack of an onion market is a problem that continues to affect many farmers in different sectors of Rubavu District, and now are requesting for a help to find an onion market.
On the other hand, some are wondering if onion seeds grown in the area are inappropriate because even drying them decomposes instead of remaining with the needed quality.
Rubavu District vice Mayor for Economic Development, Nzabonimpa Deogratias, told RBA that the problem is not on seeds because the planting is based on instructions issued by the Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB), but they are going to find solution including access to market.
The vice mayor further assured the farmers that the problem of vegetable market is about to be solved as the store machine is expected to start keeping their produce safe from rotting.
The problems these onion growers face are similar to those of their peers who have grown garlic, which have also missed the market. The Rubavu District Administration has also assured the farmers that the District will liaise them with the financial institutions that have given them the loan to see together how they will be helped to repay it without failing one another.
