RWAMAGANA/ Nyagatare - The government, through the Fund for Genocide Survivors (FARG), donated 120 Friesian cows, worth Rwf 42m to needy genocide survivors in the districts of Rwamagana and Nyagatare, yesterday.

Survivors in Rwamagana were given 80 cows, while those in Nyagatare got 40.

According to Ildefonse Niyonsenga, the Secretary General of FARG, the donation was in line with the president’s commitment to help survivors lead a meaningful life.

The FARG boss added that the project will also provide drugs and animal feed for the cows, until the beneficiaries are able to do it themselves.

"FARG is a government project started by the President. The cows we are giving are thus part of his support to survivors,” he told a cheering crowd of beneficiaries.
Dr. Theogene Rutagwenda, the Director General of Rwanda Animal Resources Development Authority (RARDA), reiterated President Paul Kagame commitment to care for the needy survivors.

"He (Kagame) said that the program will benefit each survivor in all corners of the country,” Dr Rutagwenda said.
He advised the beneficiaries and veterinary officers in the sectors, to initiate cows’ health insurance similar to mutuelle de santé.

He emphasized that such insurance would help the survivors to maintain the exotic cows.

"The president wants each survivor to get a cow under the Girinka project. So, RARDA provides technical assistance and FARG does the purchasing,” he said.

Philomene Nyirambona, 52, a resident of Bununga village in Munyiginya Sector, Rwamagana district, said that she had no words to express her happiness after getting the cow.

"I was left maimed and alone after my husband and children were killed by Interahamwe militias. Paul Kagame has revived my hope in life, by giving me a beautiful cow…I will thank him with my vote,” she said attracting laughter from the crowd.

Needy survivors in the whole country are expected to get a total of 5000 Friesian cows worth Rwf 1 billion.

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