By Rose Mukagahizi
Some livestock farmers in Gatsibo District say they are benefiting from the knowledge provided by the Rwanda Dairy Development Project Phase II (RDDP2) on how to grow, preserve, and store animal fodder, helping their cattle overcome the feed shortages that previously occurred during the dry season.
Ngendahayo Ismael, a professional livestock farmer from Kiramuruzi Sector in Gatsibo District, raises cattle and cultivates fodder crops. He also produces and multiplies fodder seeds. He explains that he decided to invest in fodder cultivation because his cattle frequently suffered from feed shortages. Today, he has turned this activity into a source of income.
With support from RDDP2, he now grows several varieties of fodder grasses, whereas previously he cultivated only one type.
“RDDP2 has expanded our knowledge and taught us that relying on a single type of fodder cannot deliver optimal productivity,” he said.
He added:“I chose to grow fodder because my cattle constantly suffered from hunger. Today, that problem has been solved, and milk production has increased significantly. I started with a small plot of land, but I now cultivate two hectares of fodder. In the past, one cow produced only one liter of milk per day, but now it produces more than 10 liters.”
He encourages fellow livestock farmers to avoid feeding only fresh grass to their animals and instead preserve and store fodder so that they have sufficient feed available during the dry season.
Muyambi Peter, a resident of Rwimbogo Sector in Gatsibo District who practices commercial fodder production, says that milk production used to decline during dry seasons, and in some cases cattle even died because of drought.
The Vice Mayor of Gatsibo District in charge of Economic Development, Sekanyange Jean Leonard, commended the contribution of RDDP2 in increasing the number of dairy cows and improving the livelihoods of local residents.
The district has already distributed approximately 150 dairy cows, and preparations are underway for beneficiaries to pass on offspring to other households under the livestock-sharing program. He noted that since the project was introduced, the challenge of cattle feed shortages has largely been addressed, resulting in satisfactory milk production across the district.
The project has also provided training to 56 livestock extension facilitators, who in turn share the knowledge with other farmers.
Gatsibo District has nearly 3,000 livestock farmers organized into 143 groups, all of whom have received training on dairy farming practices aimed at improving milk production.
The Rwanda Dairy Development Project Phase II (RDDP2) is jointly implemented by the Government of Rwanda, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI), and is implemented through the Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB).
