The National Dairy Board has been replaced with a new private sector-led organisation, the Rwanda National Dairy Platform (RNDP), as government moves to boost the country’s milk production and export.

The platform, formed last week, will be managed by the private sector with USAID-supported Rwanda Dairy Competitiveness Programme (RDCP II) that is being implemented by Land O’Lakes, according to George William Kayonga, the National Agriculture Export Board director general.

Kayonga said the new body will be mandated with overseeing the Rwanda National Dairy Farmers Federation, the Dairy Processors Association of Rwanda, and milk and input dealers.

Besides being a voice for the sector at the national and lower levels, the new organisation will seek to professionalise the country’s dairy industry by training and equipping farmers with modern skills. 

The main priority of the platform is to ensure increased milk production and value addition to serve the export market. Statistics from the Rwanda Agriculture Board indicate that Rwanda’s milk production has increased by 11 per cent over the past two years, thanks to the Girinka programme.

"Milk has the potential to become one of the leading export earners of the country. It’s, therefore, important for stakeholders to work together in promoting the industry,”Kayonga said. 

National Dairy Strategy (NDS) 2013-2018 proposed an implementation framework, which highlighted the importance of bringing the private sector on board to strengthen the sector.

Minister for Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Dr. Agnes Kalibata said the platform will empower value chain actors to build a strong dairy sector that will help drive government programmes as enshrined in the EDPRS II.

"A lot is expected from the platform – being actors in the dairy value chain, members of RNDP play a critical role in self-regulation and compliance to meeting standards and ensuring consumer protection. In addition, the platform will formulate policies and disseminate information that is relevant for dairy development,” Kalibata said in a statement.

Dr. Dennis Karamuzi, the Rwanda Dairy Competitiveness Programme acting chief of party, said there is need to sensitise Rwandans about the importance of milk consumption as one of the ways to expand the market and boost the industry.

"We are working hard to streamline the dairy sector to ensure sustainability,” Karamuzi said at the launch of RNDP last week in Kigali"