Dairy farmers tipped on standards

Dairy farmers and milk dealers have been urged to embrace quality along the value chain to boost profits. Embracing value addition, according to sector experts will help increase household incomes of farmers and contribute to economic growth. According to Dr. Vincent Niyiragira, the Rwanda Agriculture Board, Inspector for animal resources, there is need to register and licence all those involved in the milk business to ensure quality. Niyiragira was speaking to dairy farmers and milk cooperatives in Northern Province on Tuesday. “The diary industry has been greatly affected by the prolonged drought the country has been experiencing thus affecting production and farmers’ profits,” he said. Emmanuel Kageruka the managing director of cheers factory in Kanama sector Rubavu district, said, embracing quality will help boost the industry. Sector players must observe quality to protect public health and boost the industry’s potential, he added. A new strategy to enhance the country’s dairy sector was last year unveiled by the Rwanda National Dairy Platform. The two years strategy, seeks to streamline the dairy sector by ensuring proper co-ordination of stakeholders, as well as enhance skills of small farmers to improve the quality of milk and its products. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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Dairy farmers tipped on standards