The National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR) will soon conduct a countrywide census of all domestic animals in the country.

The exercise will be conducted in collaboration with the Rwanda Agricultural Board (RAB).

Officials from both institutions and district veterinary officers yesterday met to brainstorm on the data collection tools to be used.

A similar census carried out in the past was poorly done and according to officials, this led to poor planning because the collected data was inaccurate.

NISR says if the process is done in close collaboration with concerned authorities, reliable data would be collected.

Baudouin Ruterana, the Director of Social Demographic Statistics Unit, believes that it is important for the country to have accurate data on domestic animals.

"For a country to develop, it must have a vision and the strategies of how to achieve. We therefore must have statistical information to guide us in our national planning,” Ruterana said. 

He added that it would also provide a proper benchmark on how far the districts have gone in development.

The official further acknowledged that his institution would offer assistance to districts in order to achieve efficient and harmonised data in all districts.

Dr Jean Claude Rukundo, a statistician from RAB, welcomed the initiative, saying it would help the Ministry of Agriculture assess its successes and challenges.

The exercise will begin in Gakenke and Nyagatare districts next month.

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