SOUTHERN PROVINCE HUYE — Hides and Skins trade could be a major foreign exchange earner if developed, Jean Louis Bayigamba, an official from the Rwanda Leather Industries has said.Speaking last Friday at the closure of five-day training for Veterinary officers across the Country, in Butare, Bayigamba said that this year alone, the Industry exported 45 containers of hides and skins fetching $1.7million in return.“In Rwanda, hides and skins business has become lucrative because of their good quality as compared to those of our counterparts in the region. However, for us to maximize this trade opportunity we need to consider value addition at all levels,” said Bayigamba.“We want to consolidate the market by encouraging dealers at the lower levels to produce salt-dried skins that fetch higher prices compared to sun-dried ones. This can only be possible if Veterinary officers who are close to them [dealers] are enlightened,” he noted, adding that it is what makes the training pertinent. The training was organized by the Ministry of Agriculture in conjunction with the Rwanda Animal Resource Development Authority and sponsored by the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ/DED).It aimed at strengthening a well-functioning leather-related industry in Rwanda by highlighting the economic value of hides and skins through improved production and value addition. Heiko Hauth, the technical adviser of GTZ/DED said that the training was paramount to the various producers in the supply and marketing chain across all the districts. He observed that the training equipped participants with knowledge of grading, proper preservation mechanisms, pricing, and marketing channels that they would disseminate in their localities.According to Emmanuel Mwebe, a trainer from Uganda leather and allied Industries Association, Participants were also enlightened on the economic value of animal by-products like hides and skins because previously people have concentrated on meat. He noted that a high demand for such by-products will reduce prices of meat, increase animal slaughter that will in turn increase hides and skins supply.Participants were also warned against rough handling of animals meant for slaughter, because it affects the quality of hides and skins.Monitoring quality control sheets were introduced during the training that would be used to evaluate and monitor quality of skinning. This documentation is expected to provide vital data on the number of goats and sheep in the Country which is not available to-date.Thadee Manirakiza one of the participants complained of poor remuneration of Veterinary officers. He requested for a revision of their salary structure.The Rwanda leather Industry, formerly state owned was privatized in 1999. After refurbishment, it started operations in 2002. It mainly exports hides and skins to Turkey, Italy, China and Hong Kong. The Industry plans to start producing finished products for the local market in 2009 after the installation of modern equipment. Ends
