Agriculture: USAID to support smallholder dairy farmers
Smallholder dairy farmers - The United States cooperation agency Usaid and the Eastern Region Genetic Improvement Cooperative (Eragic) have announced a public-private partnership to increase the productivity of dairy herds and increase incomes for 2,000 smallholder farmers in Eastern Province.
Usaid awards Eragic Frw 44 million (US$ 69,000) to train dairy farmers in agricultural best practices and artificially inseminate 1,200 dairy cows.
Speaking at the initiative's launch in Nyagatare, the chief of party of the Rwanda Dairy Competitiveness Program, Frank O'Brien, highlighted the benefits of the alliance for smallholder farmers in Nyagatare, Gatsibo, Kayonza and Rwamagana. 'This partnership will expand and strengthen Eragic's business services, and create an ideal opportunity to improve the quantity and quality of milk coming from these four districts,' O'Brien said.
The donation enables the cooperative to train farmers, about half of whom will be women, in techniques that will maintain optimal health and nutrition of their herds. Eragic will also demonstrate best handling and hygiene skills to enhance the quality of milk, while educating farmers on how to improve their business and cooperative management skills.
The public-private partnership falls under RDCP's Competitive Service Sub-Grant mechanism that is managed by the organization Land O'Lakes for Usaid. 'The award will enable Rwanda's dairy products to become even more competitive in regional markets, as they will meet quality standards set by Comesa,' O'Brien pointed out.
By 2017, RDCP aims to increase the value of local dairy products exported to neighboring countries by 60%.
'This initiative will empower farmers to improve the quality of their yields sustainably and increase their incomes for more financial security,' said Mr. O'Brien.
RDCP II, which is also implemented in partnership with African Breeders Services Total Cattle Management Limited (ABS), aims to reduce poverty in 35,000 rural households through the sale of quality milk and by creating 7,500jobs in the dairy industry. The US$15 million program, which began in 2012, also intends to improve food security and nutritional status of rural households. In the coming months, it will launch a consumer awareness campaign to increase domestic demand of Rwandan dairy products.
Rwanda Focus/25/04/2013
Smallholder dairy farmers - The United States cooperation agency Usaid and the Eastern Region Genetic Improvement Cooperative (Eragic) have announced a public-private partnership to increase the productivity of dairy herds and increase incomes for 2,000 smallholder farmers in Eastern Province.
Usaid awards Eragic Frw 44 million (US$ 69,000) to train dairy farmers in agricultural best practices and artificially inseminate 1,200 dairy cows.
Speaking at the initiative's launch in Nyagatare, the chief of party of the Rwanda Dairy Competitiveness Program, Frank O'Brien, highlighted the benefits of the alliance for smallholder farmers in Nyagatare, Gatsibo, Kayonza and Rwamagana. 'This partnership will expand and strengthen Eragic's business services, and create an ideal opportunity to improve the quantity and quality of milk coming from these four districts,' O'Brien said.
The donation enables the cooperative to train farmers, about half of whom will be women, in techniques that will maintain optimal health and nutrition of their herds. Eragic will also demonstrate best handling and hygiene skills to enhance the quality of milk, while educating farmers on how to improve their business and cooperative management skills.
The public-private partnership falls under RDCP's Competitive Service Sub-Grant mechanism that is managed by the organization Land O'Lakes for Usaid. 'The award will enable Rwanda's dairy products to become even more competitive in regional markets, as they will meet quality standards set by Comesa,' O'Brien pointed out.
By 2017, RDCP aims to increase the value of local dairy products exported to neighboring countries by 60%.
'This initiative will empower farmers to improve the quality of their yields sustainably and increase their incomes for more financial security,' said Mr. O'Brien.
RDCP II, which is also implemented in partnership with African Breeders Services Total Cattle Management Limited (ABS), aims to reduce poverty in 35,000 rural households through the sale of quality milk and by creating 7,500jobs in the dairy industry. The US$15 million program, which began in 2012, also intends to improve food security and nutritional status of rural households. In the coming months, it will launch a consumer awareness campaign to increase domestic demand of Rwandan dairy products.
Rwanda Focus/25/04/2013
