United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has given $5 million (Frw2.7 billion) to the country’s dairy sector for five years.

The move is intended to improve the quality of dairy products through competitiveness – thus strengthening the sector.

The support initiative will be launched under the USAID Dairy Competitiveness Project in Mulindi, Gasabo District.

Land O’Lakes, a US based agricultural cooperative, will partner with other firms of different expertise and experience to implement the project.

These partners include: African Breeders Services Total Cattle Management (ABS-TCM), Community HIV/AIDS Mobilisation Programme (CHAMP), and JE Austin Associates.
Dennis Weller, USAID Director, said the project will form a dairy task force comprising stakeholders in the Rwanda’s dairy sector to identify critical problems and also find solutions.

"This will better the dairy industry’s links from the processing centre, to a packaging factory, and to the market, thereby improving the industry’s competitiveness.”

He added that the project will also define current and potential markets, explore new products, and find cost effective means to ensure milk quality.

"This will increase the productivity and profitability of dairy processors, expand opportunities in the dairy industry,” Weller explained.

It’s expected that the project will also reduce poverty by expanding economic opportunities for the vulnerable population especially those affected and infected with HIV/Aids.

Weller said that the growth of the agricultural sector through such initiatives will be critical for Rwanda’s objectives as outlined in the Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy (EDPRS).

The Director General of Rwanda Animal Resources and Development Authority (Rarda), Dr Théogène Rutagwenda, said the project has come at the right time when there is an increasing number of highly productive milk cows in the country.

He is optimistic the project will bring a fair improvement in the dairy products, thus faring well in the next cheese competition next year – having missed out a bronze this year.

The project comes when Rwanda’s dairy sector is underdeveloped, with much of the dairy products being imported from neighbouring countries.

The US President’s Emergency Plan for Aids Relief (PEFAR) will also partially fund the project, having recognised the relationship between economic development and health.

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