Horizon Group/Agropharm to set up insecticide plant in Rwanda

Horizon Group, the parent company of Rwanda's sole pyrethrum processing firm, Sopyrwa, has entered into a joint venture with UK's Agropharm to set up pyrethrum refining plant in Rwanda.

A company called Agropharm Africa in which Horizon Group owns 49 percent shares and Agropharm 51 percent was set up to produce insecticides in the country.

According to the CEO of Horizon Group, Eugene Haguma Murashi, with an initial investment of US$1.6m (Rwf947.2m), Agropharm Africa will help Sopyrwa tipple its revenues through the supply of raw pyrethrum extracts, a material for manufacturing pesticides.

Sopyrwa exports raw pyrethrum extracts to North America, Europe and Asia.

"When the firm starts operating, we will be able to produce value added pesticides for Rwandan farmers and also for export, which will increase our revenue," Haguma said.

He added that they secured a warehouse in Musanze District, where the plant will be constructed.

The partnership with Agropharm will enable Sopyrwa get formulas that facilitate production of quality pesticides that will benefit farmers in the country, he said.

"Natural extract from pyrethrum consists of chemicals with no harm to the eco-system.It is effective compared to other imported synthetics which may cause long term harm to the environment."

Statistics from Horizon show that over 7,000 farmers from Musanze, Nyabihu, Rubavu, Burera depend on pyrethrum growing for household income.