The Rwandan Ministry of Agriculture has urged its citizens to venture into apple farming, to reduce the burden of importing them at a high price. Beatrice Uwumukiza, the Director-General of Agriculture and Livestock Standards and Certification Services, argued that the recent ban on South African fruits has affected the local fruits supply. She says the next move should be exploring growing apples locally. Research has proved its feasibility and can pave a way for lower prices of the fruit, she claims.
The ban, which came into force on December 19, 2017, has led to a sharp hike in apple prices in most parts of Kigali.
According to newtimes.co.rw, Uwumukiza said that, since 2011, the Ministry of Agriculture, through the Rwanda Agriculture Board, has been testing apples adaptability in different parts of the country and the results have been positive in the majority of the tested districts.
