Cassava farmers in Ruhango District in Southern Province have appealed to Parliament and the Prime Ministers office to support their negotiations for debt relief from what they term as a reluctant Rwanda Development Bank (BRD).
The Rwf400 million debt woes were triggered by crop failure due to Cassava Brown Streak Disease that struck the crop in 2013/2014 farming season.
The farmers had acquired the loan at 15 per cent interest rate that was to be repaid within 18 months after harvest.
Since then farmers have engaged in protracted negotiations with the bank for debt relief. However, the bank is reluctant to make the debt relief part of the conversation, at least according to the farmers.
The bank is instead offering an extended repay…
Read the full article at: http://www.newtimes.co.rw/section/article/2016-06-06/200514/