USAID Grant Enhances Dairy Infrastructure in Rwanda

{In an effort to boost food security and incomes for Rwanda’s smallholder dairy farmers, the United States Agency of International Development (USAID) has provided 183 million Rwandan francs (US $240,000) to improve the infrastructure in the country’s milk collection centers (MCC), dairy processors, and small and medium enterprises. This award was made possible through the 5-year, USAID-supported Rwanda Dairy Competiveness Program II (RDCP II), which is being implemented by Land O’Lakes International Development.}

The funding from USAID has enabled Land O’Lakes to purchase items which include motorized tricycles for transporting milk, animal feed equipment, milk cooling tanks, batch pasteurizers, butter and cheese making equipment, milk cans, generators, and an 8,000 liter insulated milk transportation tank.

“I am very excited to have established this partnership with RDCP II,” says Haji Saidi Havugimana, founder of Haji Dairy Enterprise Ltd, which is one of several small-to-medium sized enterprises improving livelihoods in Rwanda’s Nyanza district. The equipment is enabling his company and others like it, to strengthen the Rwandan dairy sector’s competitiveness with product diversification, as well as increased milk volumes and improved quality.

Other companies approved for the equipment include: Bugesera district’s Bugesera Milk Collection Center; Gatsibo district’s Mudacos; Gasabo district’s Angeana Fresh Dairy Limited and Gasabo Zirakamwa Dairy Cooperative; Gicumbi district’s IAKIB; Huye district’s Vetoprox,Agiragitereka and Kidaco; Nyabihu district’s Muhe farm; Nyagatare district’s NADCO; Rubavu district’s Coderu and Fromagerie la Reine; Rulindo district’s CSTOR; and Rwamagana district’s Ndukundamatungo, and Coopag.

According to the Chief of Party for RDCP II, Frank O’Brien, the five-year program aims to reduce poverty through expanded marketing of quality milk that generates income, provides greater employment opportunities, and improves nutrition of rural households.

Currently in its inaugural year, through the generous support of the American people through USAID, RDCP II has grants available to support the Rwanda dairy sector until January 2017. The initiative particularly encourages applications from women, women-owned enterprises, and initiatives that directly enhance the livelihoods of women.