Faced with soaring animal feed costs, Uzabakiriho Alphonse found an unlikely solution buzzing around his farm: black soldier flies. What began as a personal experiment has grown into a small-scale insect farming venture that is cutting costs, improving pig health, and setting an example for others in his community.
Uzabakiriho Alphonse, a 31-year-old resident of Nyarutarama Cell in Byumba Sector, used to struggle to afford commercial pig feed. “The cost was simply too high. I needed a better way,” he recalls. That need sparked a question that would change everything: What if I could make my own feed?
Alphonse found his answer in an unexpected source: black soldier flies (BSF). With guidance from agricultural experts and support from PRISM, he began farming these protein-rich insects to process organic waste and convert it into affordable animal feed. The impact has been profound.
“I now feed my pigs and chickens with BSF-based feed. It’s cheaper, nutritious, and sustainable,” says Alphonse, standing beside his buzzing fly compost unit.
Innovation born from necessity
Alphonse was one of thousands of Rwandans who benefited from the PRISM Project (Partnership for Resilient and Inclusive Small Livestock Markets), launched in 2021 with support from the Government of Rwanda, Enabel, and IFAD. He received two pigs and short-term feed support. But knowing the feed would soon run out, he took matters into his own hands.
Today, with just one gram of BSF eggs, Alphonse can produce up to nine kilograms of larvae. These are dried, crushed, and mixed with maize bran to create nutrient-dense animal feed. He also sells the feed at 450 Rwandan Francs per kilo, supplying other farmers in the area.
One of his customers, Emmanuel Nkezabandi, a poultry farmer, admits he once thought Alphonse was crazy. “When he started with the flies, we laughed. Now we are the ones buying from him. My chickens are healthier, and egg production is up,” he says.
PRISM’s broader impact
The PRISM Project operates in 15 districts across Rwanda and targets vulnerable groups, especially women and rural youth, by providing livestock such as pigs, goats, chickens, and sheep. The numbers speak for themselves:
-67,500 chickens distributed
– 12,074 pigs
-18,246 sheep
-19,002 goats
– 2,680 people supported with microloans totalling RWF 18 million
Beyond livestock, PRISM has also facilitated the construction of modern slaughterhouses, livestock markets, and veterinary clinics. It encourages pre-production contracts between farmers and buyers to help stabilise incomes.
Joseph Nshokeyinka, PRISM Project Manager , says the goal is not just farming but transformation.
“We are improving nutrition, boosting incomes, and strengthening resilience,” he explains. “What Alphonse has done is a perfect example of innovation born from empowerment.”
Local leaders take notice
Gicumbi District Mayor Emmanuel Nzabonimpa is among those inspired by Alphonse’s success. “This is about more than feeding animals. It’s about restoring dignity and creating self-reliance,” he says. The district has pledged support for farmers like Alphonse who need land or infrastructure to expand their projects.
“He is an example we want to multiply across Gicumbi,” Nzabonimpa adds.
PRISM is funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), with support from the Government of Rwanda through the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI), and is implemented by the Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB).
