Rwanda Agriculture Board (RAB), on Monday, launched Girinka Week in the Northern Province with an aim of accelerating the implementation of the scheme, which was initiated to lift vulnerable Rwandan families out of poverty through provision of cows.

The week will include campaigns to encourage beneficiaries of the programme to pass on calves to their neighbours who have yet to benefitt.

According to officials, at least 1,500 cows will be distributed to vulnerable people in the Northern and Western provinces.

At the launch, children were given milk, to showcase the significance of the programme from which more than 200,000 families have so far benefited.

Presiding over the launch, Dr Christine Kanyandekwe, the RAB deputy director for livestock, told those that have received cows that the philosophy behind the concept is to ensure the cows benefit the entire community, and not just their households.

"This programme was started by the President as a tool to fight poverty and also increase productivity in households with a focus on those that are most vulnerable. You should, therefore, share the benefits from the cows as communities,” she said.

She said that, in monitoring the progress of the programme, they have witnessed a significant increase in the country’s milk production which has translated into increased incomes for families that have benefited from the Girinka.

Kanyandekwe cautioned local leaders against malpractices including corruption in selecting beneficiaries, which has in some cases led to non-deserving beneficiaries, getting cows at the expense of the vulnerable.

Jean Claude Izamuhaye, the head of Northern Agricultural Zone, said during the Girinka Week, they will focus on sensitisation of citizens on protecting the cows, and passing on heifers to neighbours.

"Training programmes on how best to take care of the animals will be conducted and we will also use veterinary doctors to check on the health of the cows provided under the Girinka,” he said, adding that those that have taken good care of theirs will be rewarded.

Dancilla Kabagwira, a resident from Mbogo Sector, after receiving a heifer from her neighbour, said that she expects an increase in harvest from her farm while in the near future she will have milk for her family.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources, atleast 203,000 families have benefited from Girinka programme while the target is to reach 350,000 Rwandan families by 2017.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw