In Huye District, pig and poultry farming are popular ventures, especially among young people. These livestock value chains are attractive due to their quick returns on investment.

Despite support from the government’s Strategic Plan for Agriculture Transformation (PSTA4) and Livestock Master Plan, farmers face significant challenges that limit their growth—most notably, the rising cost of animal feed.

In Ruhashya and Gishamvu sectors, pig and poultry farmers find it increasingly difficult to afford high-quality animal feed. This not only hampers growth and productivity but also affects the profitability of their businesses.

ALSO READ: How-small-livestock-farming-is-enhancing-lives-in-ruhango-district

Eric Havugiyaremye, a pork supplier in Ruhashya Sector, has observed a decline in the quality of the pork he sells. "Finding a pig that meets the desired weight and quality has become more challenging. Even when I find one, the farmer has to lower the price due to the livestock’s smaller size, impacting my business,” he said.

Local officials have reported an increase in the number of pig and poultry farmers in Huye, partially due to government initiatives like the PRISM project, which distributes small livestock to vulnerable rural areas in 15 districts, including Huye.

However, many of these farmers struggle with the same issues, leading to stiff competition and reduced profit margins.

Apollinaire Ndahimana, a poultry farmer in Gishamvu, explained the impact of high feed costs on his business. "We embraced small livestock breeds, but we feed them grass and food scraps because animal feed is expensive and not readily available. This doesn’t meet their nutritional needs, which affects our productivity,” he said.

ALSO READ: Govt-injects-rwf12-billion-into-modern-markets-for-small-livestock

Ndahimana also noted that some farmers are reverting to local breeds that can survive on foraged food and leftovers because they are cheaper to maintain. He had to sell off his modern layer chickens and return to the local breed to stay in business.

Animal feed manufacturers attribute high feed costs to the rising prices of raw materials. During the 12th National Agriculture Show at Mulindi Exhibition Ground, Ernest Habimana, a sales executive at Gorilla Feed, a feed miller in Rubirizi, Kicukiro District, explained that the price of maize and soybeans has significantly increased, driving up feed costs.

"A kilogramme of maize is about Rwf350, up from Rwf180 in previous years, while a kilogramme of soybean is between Rwf450 and Rwf500,” he said.

ALSO READ: Rwanda-to-double-lending-to-agriculture

To address these issues, the government has taken steps to support the animal feed industry, such as waiving the value-added tax (VAT) on animal feed factories to promote production and make feed more affordable.

Additionally, the National Industrial Research and Development Agency (NIRDA) announced a scheme where local farmers producing animal feed can access loans from banks at an 8 per cent interest rate, with funding from Enabel, the Belgian Development Agency. The programme aims to boost productivity and competitiveness in the sector.

The Development Bank of Rwanda (BRD) has been tasked with managing these funds and coordinating with other commercial banks, microfinance institutions, and SACCOs to provide loans to eligible firms.

In Huye District, a new animal feed factory has been established through a collaboration between the government and the Korean Embassy.

The $4 million Huye Animal Feeds factory can produce 40 tonnes of feed for chickens, cows, and pigs daily, as well as four tonnes of extruded fish feed, providing much-needed support to the local livestock industry.