KIGALI - In collaboration with the private sector, the Rwandan government is to set up three processing plants to increase capacity of dairy production an official has said.

The plants include the one from new Inyange industries where equipment has been tested. This particular plant, according to officials would commence operations this month.

Others will be constructed in Mukamira and Rusizi districts in the Western Province. Work on these two plants is in advanced stages and the target is  to complet by the end of this year.

Dr Theogene Rutagwenda, the Director General of Rwanda Animal Resources Development Authority said the plants will produce milk with longer shelf life.

"These plants will produce processed milk with a shelf-life of 30-40 days, which is the international standard and 8 days on fresh milk,” he told The Business Times reporter.

Through Rwanda Development Bank (BRD) government contributed 25 percent to the construction of Mukamira milk processing plant.

"The government expects milk production to increase and the plants will help to process and export in the neighboring countries,” he said. Increasing local milk production plants is in line with the development of the livestock industry.

In a similar move, the government has promised to establish 70 milk collection centers that will boost the incomes of dairy farmers through access to market and value addition to dairy products.

"We need to get high quality milk and farmers too need to be connected with the milk processors so they can sell more milk at higher prices, increasing their incomes and bring more economic activity to their communities,” Rutagwenda said recently.

Rutagwenda said milk is currently exported in containers to Democratic Republic of Congo.

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