A new maize milling and animal feeds factory has been launched in Gicumbi District with the support of Heifer International, a development organization working to end hunger and poverty around the world, including Rwanda.
The factory, built as a result of a strong relationship Heifer International Rwanda has established with dairy farmers in Gicumbi District since 2003, is owned and operated by IAKIB (Koperative Ihuza Aborozi ba Kijyambere Bafatanyije), a dairy farmers’ cooperative with over 4,000 members living in the district.
The new factory will enable IAKIB meet the ever-growing demand for its fine maize flour for human consumption and animal feeds and help improve income for the cooperative members and that of over 2,500 farmers in the district.
Built with US$446,927 support from Heifer International, and US$117,328 farmers’ contribution through IAKIB, the factory was launched on May 12, 2022 by the President and CEO of Heifer International, Pierre Ferrari, and the Minister of State in the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources(MINAGRI) Dr. Jean-Chrysostome Ngabitsinze.
The ceremony was also graced by the Chairperson of Heifer International Board of Directors, Randi Hedin, Heifer International Senior Vice President for Africa Programs, Adesuwa Ifedi, the Mayor of Gicumbi District, Nzabonimpa Emmanuel, the Chairperson of IAKIB Mukangiruwonsanga Agnes and other members.
The factory has a maize milling unit with the daily capacity to produce 60,000 kilograms of maize flour for human consumption and an animal feeds processing unit with the capacity to produce 20,000 kilograms of feeds per day.
The famers welcomed the new factory, saying it will save them from traveling long distances and incurring extra costs to access animal feeds.
Dairy farmers in Gicumbi district are increasingly moving from traditional, low milk producing cattle breeds to improved dairy breeds with higher milk production thus increasing demand for cattle feeds as most of them are zero-grazed. Currently, IAKIB collects between 38,000 liters of milk and 42,000 liters per day compared to 2,000 liters when it started.
"We are grateful to Heifer International for their support in building the factory and the local authorities who are there on a day-to-day basis to address our challenges,” said Agnes Mukangiruwonsanga, the chairperson of IAKIB.
The Minister of State for Agriculture, Dr. Jean-Chrysostome Ngabitsinze acknowledged the support of Heifer International.
"I would like to thank Heifer International. Having a factory like this is a big contribution not only to Gicumbi but Rwanda as a whole,” Ngabitsinze said after touring the factory.
The Minister also commended members of the cooperative for coming together to address their challenges.
"IAKIB is a model cooperative, we hope others learn from you,” he said adding that, "no man is an island and today you have proved that it is important to form meaningful partnerships.”
Pierre Ferrari, the President and CEO of Heifer International, told the farmers that the organization is in Rwanda to stay.
"Heifer doesn’t come in and go, it stays. I want you to be confident that as long as you need us we will be here,” Ferrari said.
He commended the farmers and the government for putting in effort to improve the welfare of the people.
The IAKIB cooperative received legal personality in 2003. To date, the cooperative caters to approximately 9,000 dairy farmers.
Besides milk collection, the cooperative provides extension services including veterinary services and farming equipment. The cooperative employs 76 permanent staff and is a model diary development cooperative in the area.
The Work of Heifer International in Rwanda
Heifer International has been operating in Rwanda since 2000 following a grant award by the United Nations Development Program(UNDP) through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for the implementation of a three-year Small Scale Dairy Development Project.
In collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI) and the International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD), Heifer is currently implementing projects in the development of the Rwanda Dairy sector and Small Livestock (PRISM project). These projects are active in 17 districts in Rwanda, focusing on improving farmers’ livelihoods, incomes and families’ nutrition through the provision of technical assistance for agricultural production and business management, and by connecting farmers to markets in the dairy, goat, swine and poultry value chains.
Since 2000, Heifer International has supported 1.4 million Rwandan families through projects that improve nutrition and economic security and targets to move 300,000 others to sustainable living by 2030.
A factory worker explains to the Heifer International team the production process at the factory.
Flora Uwera, one of the beneficiaries of Heifer International support shares a light moment with the Chairperson of Heifer International Board of Directors, Randi Hedin (left).
Heifer International has supported 1.4 million Rwandan families including Flora Uwera who is showing Heifer International officials how farming processes.
The Chairperson of Heifer International Board of Directors, Randi Hedin (left), and President and CEO of Heifer International, Pierre Ferrari (right) toured the factory that was unveiled on May 12, 2022, in Gicumbi.
The chairperson of IAKIB Agnes Mukangiruwonsanga hands over a token of appreciation to the Heifer International president and CEO, Pierre Ferrari.
The Minister of State for Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI), Dr. Jean-Chrysostome Ngabitsinze, joined Heifer International officials and IAKIB farmers for launch ceremony.
The new factory provides farmers with more affordable access to animal feeds, resulting in more income and better welfare for the farmers and their families.