RARDA donates 40 cows to residents

EASTERN PROVINCE NGOMA—The Rwanda Animal Resources Development Authority (RARDA) yesterday donated 40 cows to residents in Ngoma District. The Friesian cows which are part of the government’s programme of poverty eradication best known locally as Ubudehe, were handed over to the beneficiaries by Gilbert Rutayisire, the district agricultural officer. 15 cows were given to Kibungo Dairy Farmers Cooperative Society (KIDAFACO) while 17 heads were handed over to selected needy residents within the district. Eight other heads which were found to be of local and poor quality were rejected and taken back. Rutayisire said that the only breeds cleared to be offered to the residents “should be of Friesian stock.”. “These eight heads some of them are of local breed while others are not healthy . These therefore cannot be offered to the residents since they can hardly be of benefit to them.” The 15 cows given to KIDAFACO is a compensation for about 21 of their cows that died since last year. Felestin Rugwiririza, the President of KIDAFACO, who received the cows on behalf of the members, said that the heifers they had bought originally were infected with diseases which resulted into their deaths. “We contacted RARDA and told them of the predicament which had befallen us. We are glad that they have responded positively,” Rugwiririza said. KIDAFACO received a loan of Rwf36 Million from the Rwanda Development Bank(BRD) last year for their dairy project part of which they bought 55 cows. “We were worried of how we would repay this loan, but I now strongly believe the replacement will help us service the loan,” he said, adding that they had repaid only Rwf1.2 m of the original loan from BRD. Ends