{The government through the Girinka Program has so far distributed 223,000 cows to poor households, leaving a deficit of 120,000 to achieve the 350,000 cow donations by 2017.
}
The Girinka Munyarwanda program was launched in 2006 by President Paul Kagame as an effort to support poor families to eliminate extreme poverty and hunger. The program is expected to be completed in 2017 where 350,000 families will have benefited.
In an interview with IGIHE, Dr. Pascal Nyabinwa the coordinator OF Gira Inka program in Rwanda Agriculture Board(RAB) has unveiled that 63% of expected donations has been completed adding that there is assurance of attaining the targeted percentage 100%.
“Over 223,000 cows have been donated. This is in addition to recent donations. Besides, some people are willing to donate more cows to meet the target,”he said.
Starting from 1st December, 2015 ‘Girinka Week’ will be launched where beneficiaries of Girinka program will be reminded to willingly respect and extend the donation chain .
In Southern and Western Provinces, mobilization activities of private investors will involve donating cows to poor families an act preceded by donations in Eastern province.
During the week, every district will collaborate with private investors to support the fund for Girinka.
Reacting to raised problems of mismanagement in Gira Inka program, Dr. Nyabinwa said that a delegation to investigate the matter was established in addition to complaints sent to local leaders that will be involved in the investigations, noting that culprits will face the long arm of the law.
He appealed on Gira Inka beneficiaries to take care of donations and asked partners to boost efforts in the implementation of the program intended to transform Rwandans’ livelihoods.
{{The productivity of Girinka}}
The research conducted by the Ministry of Agriculture in 2014/2015 indicates that Rwandese livelihoods were transformed through Girinka program.
Milk production has increased between 2009-2010 to 333,727 liters, a 20% increase from the previous period before the program.
Farmyard manure is said to have increased production as reported by 90% of Ngoma district beneficiaries of Girinka.
Others have used cow dung to construct biogas facilities, eliminated nutritional deficiencies, fed into unity and reconciliation as well as improved access to medical insurance and education.
Leave a Reply