Kirehe District Promotes Modern Livestock Practices to Boost Milk Production and Farmer Development

The Kirehe District administration is encouraging livestock farmers to adopt modern methods of animal husbandry to increase milk production, diversify markets, and foster local development.

This call was made on June 11, 2025, during a one-day training session for livestock consultants and sector veterinarians in the district. The training, conducted in partnership with the National Agency for the Development of Agriculture and Livestock, Heifer International, and RDDP II, aims to equip key stakeholders with the skills needed to support local farmers.

Kirehe District currently boasts over 47,000 cows, with approximately 80% producing milk — totaling between 23,000 and 28,000 liters daily. However, during the dry season, this volume drops to around 11,000 liters.

Nsengimana Emanuel, a livestock officer in Kirehe, told MUHAZIYACU that he hopes the trained personnel will assist farmers by providing training, which could potentially triple their income.

He explained, “After this training, we expect the trainees to help farmers by teaching them how to prepare modern hay and how to care for their animals so that milk production can increase from 23,000 liters to about 60,000 liters a day.”

Immaculate Murerwa, a livestock officer in Kigina Sector, stated that after the training, her team will approach herders in groups to teach them better breeding practices, how to cultivate nutritious grass, and how to provide a balanced diet for their cattle to improve milk yield.

She noted, “We will visit farmers in groups to teach animal care, feeding, insemination, and blood transfusion techniques. We will also advise farmers to bring their milk to collection points, helping them develop economically.”

The Deputy Mayor of Kirehe District responsible for social welfare, Janviere Mukandayisenga, praised the initiative, emphasizing the importance of focusing on dairy farming.

She said, “Those involved in livestock activities should work hard to promote dairy farming, especially dairy cows. To see real results, farmers need to properly care for their animals through proper feeding and insemination, and they should know where their milk is going to help develop this sector.”

Additionally, livestock counselors and veterinarians from across the district have been trained in resolving conflicts that may arise in livestock management.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, milk production in Rwanda has tripled over the past 14 years, increasing from 334,727 tons in 2010 to 1,092,430 tons in 2024. The national per capita milk consumption has also nearly doubled, from 37.3 liters to 79.9 liters annually.