Leaders askes to cut red tape for investors in agric

The government has reiterated its commitment to
implement measures designed to spur growth in the
agriculture sector by reducing bureaucracy and other
barriers deterring potential investors.
The Minister for Agriculture, Géraldine Mukeshimana, made
the remarks on her first tour of Eastern Province, since she
assumed office weeks ago.
The minister inspected a number of agriculture projects in
the districts of Kayonza and Nyagatare on Tuesday.
Her remarks follow the delay by authorities to grant an
Indian firm permission to start up a rice processing factory
in Nyagatare, which Mukeshimana said was unacceptable.
"We should all support investors to start off their business.
For instance, we short cut bureaucracy with regard to
issuance of construction permits, should be everybody's
concern," the minister said.
"It is a shame that the company has taken a year or so,
without securing permission to construct a rice firm.
Unnecessary bureaucracies keep away potential
investors... We have to revise this," she told stakeholders.
Mukeshimana said growth remained a central pillar of the
country's Vision 2020.
She later visited Muvumba irrigation scheme.
She commended a Rwf4.5 billion project that will see
vegetables, tomatoes, maize and bean crops, among others,
grown under the land consolidation programme.
"The beneficiaries must own the programmes for the project
to be meaningful."
Meanwhile, some residents who were affected by the land
consolidation programme complained about the scheme.
Most people around River Muvumba were relocated to
create a wider acreage.
Daniel Bwankarikari, 67, said the project left them without
houses and food to eat.
"We would all like to see this river utilised to its full
potential. But we have to live before we realise that
dream... look my house is gone and one hectare of banana
plantation is no more. I am in a state of despair. So, how do
you expect me to survive, it's pathetic," he said.
Odette Uwamariya, the Governor of Eastern Province,
admitted that some people were affected, noting, however,
that more friendly measures were expected.
She said a better working procedure to pave way for land
consolidation would be forged in the near future.
"There are some people that were inevitably affected... this
is however short term and soon they will realise the real
benefits of the scheme," she said.