“Rwanda being a free economy where the supply and demand forces are the key determinants, Irish potatoes are not exempt. The skyrocketing price is as a result of the scarcity of the commodity and irregular supply from the main regions, producing potatoes (Nyabihu, Ruhengeri and Musanze),” said Theoneste Nzanimpa, an Irish potato traders’ representative from Kacyiru.
Stakeholders say that this is evidenced by decreased output from the various regions. For instance, some stakeholders claim that in recent weeks, wholesalers have had to seek potatoes from other regions with some even sourcing from outside the country.
Newtimes.co.rw further quoted Nzanimpa as saying: “The impact can also be felt in the sense that in the months of April, May, and June in Kigali only, the consumption level was 600 tons per day but that quantity has fallen drastically by more than 60 percent, to just 240 tons.”
