ONE-COW-PER-FAMILY programme, better known as Girinka, has greatly contributed toward the eradication of malnutrition in the country, residents and officials have said.

The comments were made last week at the end of the "Girinka Week,” a campaign that sought to encourage beneficiaries of the programme to pass on heifers to their needy neighbours.

The campaign was championed by the Rwanda Agriculure Board (Rab), in partnership with local leaders. It featured several activities, including giving cows to needy families, construction of cowsheds for beneficiaries and a milk feeding scheme for children, among others.

Ninety-six cows were donated to needy families in  Huye District.

Dr Christine Kanyandekwe, Rab deputy director for livestock, said Girinka has greatly impacted the lives of citizens by uplifting their welfare.

She said apart from moving families out of poverty, the programme has played a major role in the fight against malnutrition and stunting.

"Thanks to increased milk production and consumption, beneficiaries were able to boost the nutritional status of their food intake, thus significantly reducing the numbers of those affected by malnutrition,” Kanyandekwe said.

Under Girinka, more than 200,000 cows have been distributed throughout the country since its inception in 2006.

The target is to distribute at least 350,000 cows by 2017.

Kanyandekwe told The New Times that cows distributed under the programme have contributed to a significant increase in the country’s milk production.

Milk productivity increased threefold from 170,000 litres in 2009 to the current 600,000 litres produced annually across the country.

Marcel Macumi, a Girinka beneficiary from Rusatira Sector in Huye, said the cow he received has helped him "get milk to supplement his food intake, get money from selling milk and provided manure that contributed to boosting my agricultural production.”

Huye mayor Eugene Kayiranga Muzuka said the district will continue to work with its stakeholders and also encourage beneficiaries to pass on heifers birthed by the donated cows to their needy neighbours in order to continue helping more individuals out of poverty.

Findings of a survey carried out by Senate that were presented to the House last week concluded that malnutrition and stunting could be totally eliminated in the next six years if government maintains its efforts towards the fight against malnutrition.