How Rwanda is revamping its livestock industry to boost economy & nutritional security

Rwanda's livestock industry is on a path to transformation as the government implements a five-year master plan aimed at revamping the sector and boosting farmers' incomes as well as food and nutritional security. Solange Uwituze, the Deputy Director-General of Animal Research and Technology Transfer at the Rwanda Agriculture Boards, shed light on the investments and initiatives driving the growth of the livestock industry in the country. Livestock farming in Rwanda has garnered significant recognition, with key strategic documents acknowledging it as a crucial economic pillar contributing to the agriculture sector and the national GDP. The government recently infused approximately 15 billion Rwandan francs into pig and poultry farming to enhance these value chains. This funding will be utilized to develop inclusive and sustainable pig, poultry, and animal feed value chains, attracting the private sector to modernize and industrialize these sectors to produce high-quality meat products and eggs. However, the industry still faces challenges, with three main issues standing out. The first challenge lies in ensuring a consistent supply of animal feeds, particularly as current feeds rely heavily on maize and soybean. Efforts are underway to explore alternative animal feed sources that can either replace or complement maize and soybean. Another focus is on establishing quality breeding centers to facilitate genetic improvements in livestock. Additionally, investments are being made in processing facilities for meat production aimed at creating a robust and profitable meat market for pigs and chickens. The COVID-19 pandemic posed obstacles to Rwanda's livestock sector, especially impacting the broiler chicken industry, given its reliance on the hospitality sector. With lockdown measures affecting the hospitality industry, there was a noticeable slowdown in the poultry market. Despite these challenges, Rwanda remained committed to the livestock master plan, with the industry contributing 11.5% to the agricultural GDP as of December 2019. Efforts are underway to revive the sector post-pandemic, with projects focused on bridging the gaps created by COVID-19 and revitalizing the hospitality industry. As Rwanda navigates the post-pandemic recovery phase, the livestock industry is expected to rebound as the country aims to regain its footing in the agricultural sector. With strategic investments and initiatives in place, Rwanda is well-positioned to strengthen its livestock value chains, attract private sector participation, and ensure sustainable and profitable businesses for all actors involved.