EASTERN PROVINCE

NYAGATARE — The East African Dairy Development Project (EADDP) is to start training local livestock farmers how to carry out artificial insemination.

Dr. Oneas Mufandaedza, the coordinator of African breeders services (ABS) one of the EADDP partners said this while closing a workshop on artificial insemination over the weekend.

The training attracted 20 members of the Eastern region animal genetic improvement cooperative (ERAGIC), according to Mufandaedza.

The cooperative is made up of members who carry out artificial insemination in the three districts of Nyagatare, Gatsibo and Rwamagana.

Other partners of EADDP include; Heifer international Rwanda, International Livestock Research Institute, International sender for agro forestry and Technoserve.
At least 10 members were selected from Nyagatare, five from Gatsibo and five from Rwamagana.

According to Mufandaedza, the training aimed at identifying the challenges participants face in order to equip them with other necessary skills needed in executing their work.

After identifying the challenges, Mufandaedza added, the project is set to start training local livestock farmers in the procedures used in carrying out artificial insemination.

"Our next step is to give our services to local livestock farmers.  In future, we want them to be able to inseminate their animals,” he said.

Other knowledge got from the training included, breeding and reproductive efficiency, maintaining milk quality, record keeping, business skills among other things.

"The training has offered our members new knowledge and skills, and an opportunity to reflect on our current service delivery.

We are aware of the concerns of our stakeholders with regard to the quality of our service. We take these concerns seriously and would like to assure them that we are committed to resolve these challenges through consultations and effective communication with stake holders at all levels,” Titus Mugisha, the chairman of ERAGIC said.

He identified lack of transport to effectively respond to artificial insemination and pregnancy diagnosis requests, as some of the challenges faced by members.

Other problems cited included, inadequate resources for identification of offspring, maintenance of requisite records and limited supply of liquid nitrogen.

It was observed that limited supply of the latter can compromise semen quality. Speaking at the same occasion, Dr. Charles Kayumba, Heifer international country director said they would embark on a campaign to reduce the use of local bulls.

"We are going to sensitize all farmers in these districts to sell off all their bulls so that they can adopt the system of artificial insemination.

This system will change their local cows to 75 percent cross breed. And I am sure milk production will increase from two liters per cow, to between 15 and 20 liters per cow,” Kayumba said.

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