Despite the lack of a strong dairy processing industry in Rwanda, locally processed cheese faired well at the World Jersey Cattle Bureau Conference in Island of Jersey last month. The cheese from Rushaki Cottage Industry, a small firm in Gichumbi District scored 188 points, missing out by a score to win a bronze medal. 

According to Rwanda Animal Resources and Development Agency (Rarda), the class 7 continental style semi-hard cheese was fourth behind Australia, USA and Jersey respectively. The overall classes were 17.

According to Deborah Midgley, the Royal Jersey Agricultural and Horticultural Society Event Coordinator, it was tremendous achievement for a country like Rwanda which has just begun crossbreeding.

She urged them to improve their product and consider entering the next year’s competition.

Theogéne Rutagwenda, the Director General of Rarda urged the private sector to invest in dairy the sector.

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