The gako integrated beef project in Bugesera District presents the livestock sector new and better opportunities for growth and competitiveness besides creating jobs for both skilled and unskilled manpower along the value chain, officials have said.

Speaking in an interview with The New Times, Dr Theogene Rutagwenda, the director general for animal resources, said the project is on course, adding that local investors have fully embraced the opportunity and are undertaking individual developments that will feed the project. Rutagwenda said the project will be intensive in nature, adding that they will use modern livestock production techniques to maximise its potential.

He said over 10 investors, including one co-operative of local farmers in Bugesera, and government, are engaged in developing the required facilities, especially putting in place basic infrastructure to ensure constant supply of things like electricity and water, and growing livestock pasture. He noted that when operational, it will serve the local, regional and other markets with high quality meat. The project is located near the proposed site for Bugesera International Airport, which could facilitate beef exports.

Government seeks to increase beef production for home consumption and export through the intensive cattle and goat production scheme at the Gako facility, which seats on 4,500 hectares of land.

The project is one of the government interventions that seek to modernise the country’s agriculture industry, including the livestock sector, from largely subsistence production to a market-oriented activity. Besides, positioning Rwanda as an alternative source of quality beef products is essential to enhance the country’s foreign exchange receipts, and ensure the local livestock sector becomes more profitable, according to experts.

However, the slaughterhouse that was expected to start operations last October is yet to be completed, he added.

The facility will have a modern abattoir with sections for cattle and goats, and will have the capacity to slaughter 20 cows per hour, according the Agro-processing Trust Corporation (APTC), that is charged with the project.

The firm’s officials also said they are already rearing hybrid cattle, targeting 3,000 cows by 2018, with the entire projection at 10,000 heads of cattle.

"We are rearing 973 cows and 927 goats. We want to increase our livestock fast for our abattoir to start operating by October. We are also going to import young hybrids to fatten them in our feedlots,” Maj Moses Kayigamba, the APTC chief executive, told reporters in August last year. The country targets to increase beef production to 410,808 tonnes by 2017, from 76,830 tonnes in 2014.

The State Minister for Agriculture Tony Nsanganira, said the Gako beef project is expected to start operations before end of this fiscal year. "For now a lot of efforts are being put in ensuring the infrastructures like water systems, electricity and roads are in place,” Nsanganira said.

By the third quarter of last year, government had injected about Rwf2.5 billion into the project, mainly for road construction and demarcating the lots for different investors. It is expected to be fully operational within two years.

According to 2014 statistics, meat consumption in Rwanda stands at 5.6kg per capita per year compared to 30kg recommended by FAO standards.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw