NORTHERN PROVINCE

GICUMBI—Veterinary officers in Gicumbi District, who were tasked with looking into complaints raised by Gicumbi livestock farmers released their report last Friday.

The district ordered the veterinary officers to carry out an examination after livestock farmers rejected about 102 cows which had been supplied to them on credit, claiming the cows were of poor quality and could not guarantee the expected yields.

According to the veterinary report, only 30 out of 98 examined cows which had been supplied, are Frisian cross breeds. 

"A cross breed cow capable of yielding high milk production, should possess at least 50 percent or above of blood samples between indigenous and Frisian cow,” said Kageyo Sector veterinary officer, Benon Habumuremyi.

However, the two contractors, who supplied the cows, Alfred Nkubili and Eugene Bavukiyehe, dismissed the veterinary report as biased.

"The veterinary officers refused to test cows which are two months pregnant, yet the contract we have with the district indicates that we should also include crossbreeds which are two months pregnant and above,” Bavukiyehe said.

But the veterinary officers insisted that professionally they were not required to test two -month and below pregnant cows.

"This is a matter of professionalism. We have no hidden agenda over this issue”, added Habumuremyi.

The 30 cows that were found to be of the required quality were distributed to few beneficiary livestock farmers present at Gicumbi stadium, at a reduced cost of Rwf415,000 each while the remaining 68 cows were taken away by the suppliers on Fuso trucks to unknown destinations.

The rejected cows were procured by Gicumbi District through Banque Populaire meant to be given to farmers on credit, under the government’s cattle stocking scheme.

Each cow was originally valued at Rwf500, 000, payable within a period of four years.

After the report was released, Mayor Bonane Nyangezi, assured farmers who did not receive the cows that they would get them soon.

"You need to be patient because the district will do its best to procure Frisian crossbreeds for you,” he said.

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