A new initiative, launched last week in Gicumbi District, will help tackle malnutrition in families through increase in the consumption of milk, according to officials from the Ministry of Agriculture (Minagri). 

Dubbed the ‘Milk Bar’, the initiative is aimed at making milk accessible in trading centres across the country, where the predominant beverages are alcoholic drinks. 

The initiative is jointly pushed for by the Ministry of Agriculture and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (Fao). 

Attahen Maïga, the Fao country representative, said during the launch that despite the increase in milk production in the country, the consumption remains minimal. He said this has led to malnutrition among Rwandans, which can be tackled if everyone consumed the recommended quantities of milk. 

He said many such bars would be introduced across the country. 

"It is expected that the promotion of many such bars will contribute not only to improvement of nutrition of vulnerable people at the grassroots communities but will also reduce the negative impact of harmful beverages such as illegal brew and dirty water,” Maïga said. 

Daniel Harindintwari, a resident of Ngondore, said it would now be easy for one to pass by the "bar”, buy milk, drink and take some home. 

Lunch break snack

Agnes Mukangiruwonsanga, the chairperson of IAKIB Cooperative, which brings together nearly 700 pastorists who will implement the initiative, said the "milk bars” will benefit many people, including workers who might not be able to go home for lunch. 

"People who work far from home will also have something to digest instead of working on an empty stomach,” Mukangiruwonsanga said.

Employees at the Milk Bars will be trained in milk preservation and the bar where the activity was launched was offered a cooling machine by Fao. 

At the same function, the deputy director-general in charge of animal resources and extension at Rwanda Agricultural Board, Dr Christine Kanyandekwe, encouraged the workers to keep the milk safe and offer excellent customer care services. 

Dr Kanyandekwe told The New Times that the concept of ‘Milk Bar’ was chosen to let people know that they can even gather over a cup of milk instead of always meeting over beer or other drinks. 

"In Rwanda, the average milk consumption for an individual is 50 litres annually, while Fao recommends up to 170 liters. There is still a lot to do and milk bar is one of steps towards uprooting malnutrition related problems,” Kanyandekwe said.