Rwanda Council of Veterinary Doctors Council has said that there is need for more inseminators as well as boosting capacities so as to scale up insemination services for livestock farmers.

According to Alphonse Marie Nshimirimina, the Executive Secretary of the council, there are about 2,533 veterinaries in the country but there is need of training to increase the number as well as skills in insemination technology so as to help improve animal reproduction.

"Since 2016, 229 inseminators have been trained and deployed in 20 districts. They work with livestock farmers so that the animal reproduction is at fast rate. We still need more vet doctors and inseminators so they are available for livestock farmers in all parts of the country,” he said.

He said that in 2018, 55 technicians were trained in Kayonza and Kirehe districts in cesarean operation, castration, dehorning among other services.

Nshimirimana said that the council has started licensing veterinaries, including professionals, paraprofessionals and animal scientists.

"It is part of quality improvement of veterinary services. At the end of August 2018, we had licensed 255 veterinaries,” he said.

Among the challenges that the sector is facing include insufficient skills for field veterinarians in pig farming, poultry and beekeeping.

The challenges also include insufficient veterinary kits as well as some cases corruption among field veterinarians.

According to Ritha Kwibuka, a new graduate vet doctor from Gicumbi District who recently joined the council, the veterinary profession should be exploited as it can help increase productivity of the livestock sector.

"Veterinaries are still few in the country and they need to get their skills improved. Currently, livestock farming is often done unprofessionally. This should change,” he said.

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