EASTERN PROVINCE

Rwamagana - A new farmer’s cooperative society catering for the needs of dairy sector has been set up in Munyiginya sector within Rwamagana. The new cooperative society was set up with assistance from the East African Diary Development Project (EADDP).

Speaking at the occasion, Emmanuel Munyandinda, the country project coordinator- EADDP emphasized the importance of forming diary cooperatives for such needy locations.

"Low income earners like you, need to start up Small scale dairy production projects. Cooperatives are important because they attract substantial development support from national and international agencies as a viable pathway out of poverty,” Emmanuel Munyandinda, told the listening peasants.

Over 2,000 people have registered as members of the Dukorere Igihugu Farmers Cooperative (DUFACO) Diary Cooperative.

"The people of Munyiginya are expected to develop into small-scale milk producers. They thus need to organize themselves into a dairy cooperative society in order to be able to supply their raw milk to other larger market outlets,” the sector executive secretary said.

The seemingly highly motivated local leader further noted that cooperatives offer an important opportunity for farmers to change their livelihoods.

"This cooperative society will help boost local milk production. It will also help to transport and supply milk to the collection centres. You will with time encounter positive changes in your livelihoods as an impact of this project,” the official predicted.

Residents of the district however complained to this report that they do not properly understand the concept of cooperative societies. They also sighted lack of money to pay as membership fee.

"I have a problem of understanding the whole process of forming a cooperative society . How does it operate and how does it pay individuals in the long run? These are my principle questions,” Said Munyampindi Gorethe, 47, a resident of Munyiginya sector.

She further added that,"We also have a problem of getting the money to pay to be members of DUFACO”.

The present officials remarked that the local population should be sensitized enough to conceptualize and hence understand the importance of forming such a cooperative society.

"It is a long process. We shall keep on pushing slowly, so that they get to understand the necessity of long term planning.

Most of them are not educated, which why they take long to understand,” Betty Rwamuhizi, a senior Diary specialist remarked.

Joseph Karake, the organisational  development coordinator for EADDP told the potential farmers to start trying modern feeding and breeding practices as a precursor to a planned  dairy production upgrade.

Generally, farmers in the area lack the required husbandry practises that smallholders apply to intensify their dairy production.

Ends