Rwanda News Agency/Agence Rwandaise d'Information (Kigali)
3 December 2007
Kigali — Rwanda has been importing more than 70% of its milk requirements resulting in 'unprecedented levels of malnutrition' but by 2012 that is slated to change, a new government plan for the sector seems to suggest.
The country has a human population of over 8.7 million people but only produces 130.000 tons of milk leading to consumption levels of 13 liters per person per year compared to 52 liters recommended by the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), the plan also presented to donors last month says.
This indicates that the country has been importing 75% of its milk needs to cover up for the shortfall which according to government, drains the hard earned foreign exchange that would be doing other things.
The plan 'A cow per every poor family' is part of the hybrid poverty eradication drive - the Economic Development and Poverty Eradication Strategy (EDPRS) launched at the Development Partners Meeting in Kigali held November 26-27. Through the ambitious program, government wants to bring down poverty level from above 60% to just fewer than 46% in 2012.
"In Rwanda, 67% of poor people live in rural areas. Poverty and living standards depend on land and livestock holdings and indicators show that lack of livestock is always associated with poverty", Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Minister Anastase Murekezi told the donors.
The initiative of a cow per household, according to Mr. Murekezi, will therefore assist people who own land and can have enough feed for their animals so they move away from the poverty line.
The program started last year whereby cattle have been imported from Kenya and South Africa and distributed to needy families. Up to 3000 heads of hybrid cattle have already been given out.
Under the same program, that has also involved organizations 'Send a Cow', Heifer International and the Lutheran World Federation, recipients are expected to relinquish the offspring to another family.
The country has been divided into parts according to level of child malnutrition with the hard-hit 9 districts to be targeted first. These include districts of Gisagara, Nyanza, Nyaruguru, Nyamagabe, Karongi, Rutsiro, Ngororero and Gicumbi. They form some parts of the Southern, Western and Northern Provinces.
These areas have malnutrition levels raging at 50% - meaning almost half the children in these places do not have enough food-valued meals. The remaining 21 districts will be covered by the second phase of the program.
Government is targeting a 668.763 families believed to be in dare need. Some 25.000 exotic cows and 339.000 indigenous will be bought for distribution and their offspring will be moved on to other families.
Three years from now, officials want to have milk production increased from 157.000 tons to about 280.000 tons. Consumption per person should rise from 16liters in 2007 to 35 liters and eventually 53 liters by 2017.
"As a result, milk imports into the country will stop in 2012 as the country will be self sufficient in milk production", the government paper says.
By end of 2008 alone, there should be 308.000 tons of milk with people having up to 33 liters for their nutritional needs every year - but still below the UN threshold.
Cost
Officials however also say that at some point, to make sure the animals distributed to not simply die or do not go a long way to helping the targeted communities - there is need for longer term approaches.
Part of the plan will include developing pasture seeds that suit the different regions of the country. There will be extensive veterinary surveillance programs to control disease. There will also be a 'genetic improvement program' largely through artificial insemination campaigns.
Government also says it will come up with policy incentives aimed at encouraging private investment in the milk industry. Private business in the sector remains in grip of just about 3 major investors and a negligible number of small diary sellers that buy the low quantities from individual farmers.
However, to have the 'A cow per every poor family' plan rolled out successful, officials here require about $96 million (about Rwf 53billion) over the next five years. For the immediate implementation of the program, government wants about $5.3 million.
At the donor meeting, Rwanda partners expressed concern with figure that were showing a slow down of the agricultural sector and actually committed to orienting more effort and resources to the same sector. The World Bank, so far stands out with the largest injection into agriculture and bilateral donors were encouraged to do so.
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