Rwanda : Rice farmers complain of infections and allergies

Rice plantation in Kanyonyomba

Rice growers’ Cooperative des Riziculteurs dans le marais de Kanyonyomba (CORIMAK) in the swamp of Kanyonyomba in Eastern Province of Rwanda reveal that despite the good harvest, they still face hard challenges.

 

Some of problems they face are skin diseases and respiratory infections that come as a result ofrice husks during the harvesting process.

 

The cooperative members are seeking for help from the authorities by giving them protective equipment that prevent them from skin and respiratory infections that result from rice husks during the harvesting period.

 

The secretary of CORIMAK Albert Byiringiro says that even though the respiratory problem have not yet been that serious, they expect to keep rising and that they are partnering with RwandaRural sector support project to find a lasting solution to the problem which health experts think to be an allergy.

 

The cooperative CORIMAK is ready to harvest 2000 tons of rice from Kanyonyomba swamp with 1000 already harvested. The cooperative members are ready to take advantage of the newly constructed rice sorting factory in Gatsibo district whereby they are determined to buy shares in case they factory is put on market.

CORIMAK cooperative members say that the rice sorting factory came in the right time when it is greatly needed because farmers were tired of being cheated by business people who would buy each kilogram of rice at Rwf242 yet the sorted rice at the markets is sold at Rwf600 each kilogram.

http://umuhinzi.com/2012/03/rwanda-rice-farmers-complain-infections-allergies/