Rwandan Dairy Sector to Receive Rwf160bn Boost Through New RDDP II Project
Source: DairyNews.today
The Rwandan dairy industry is set for a significant transformation with the launch of the Rwf166.5 billion Rwanda Dairy Development Project II (RDDP II). This ambitious initiative, a collaboration between the Ministry of Agriculture and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), aims to modernize and expand Rwanda's dairy sector, benefiting over 175,000 smallholder farmers across 27 districts.
Building on the successes of the first phase, which concluded just two months ago, RDDP II seeks to enhance Rwanda’s annual milk production, which reached one billion liters in 2023. Key objectives of the project include the establishment of a new dairy breeding center to supply quality breeds to farmers, improvements in milk collection and cold chain infrastructure, and the adoption of advanced fodder management practices. Additionally, the project aims to improve farmers' access to financial services, empowering them to scale and modernize their operations.
Olivier Kamana, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, emphasized the project's focus on enhancing the cold value chain, which is crucial for maintaining the quality of milk delivered to collection centers. "The project will focus on improving the cold value chain to enhance the quality of milk reaching collection centers. It will also prioritize providing farmers with high-quality dairy breeds. A new breeding center will be established to support the Isonga breeding hub," Kamana stated. The project, with a budget of $100 million and an additional $25 million expected by year-end, aims to reach over 175,000 farmers, expanding its reach from the 100,000 farmers supported in the first phase.
Over the next six years, RDDP II will construct or rehabilitate 164 milk storage and processing facilities and equip 95 milk collection centers with a digitalized milk transaction management system. This expansion includes 13 new districts, further scaling up efforts to boost the dairy sector nationwide.
The project is anticipated to have a profound impact on the livelihoods of dairy farming households. Officials estimate that 80% of households involved in dairy farming will experience a 30% increase in income, and the project is expected to create 3,400 new jobs. Additionally, 45% of these households are expected to improve their nutritional security.
The initiative will support 85,000 households, with a particular focus on empowering women and youth, aiming for 45% and 25% participation, respectively. Floride Nyirangirababyeyi, a smallholder farmer from Nyarugenge Sector in Bugesera District, expressed optimism about the project, highlighting the potential benefits for smallholder farmers like herself.
RDDP II represents a significant step forward in the development of Rwanda's dairy industry, laying the groundwork for a more prosperous and sustainable future for the nation's smallholder farmers.
Olivier Kamana, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, emphasized the project's focus on enhancing the cold value chain, which is crucial for maintaining the quality of milk delivered to collection centers. "The project will focus on improving the cold value chain to enhance the quality of milk reaching collection centers. It will also prioritize providing farmers with high-quality dairy breeds. A new breeding center will be established to support the Isonga breeding hub," Kamana stated. The project, with a budget of $100 million and an additional $25 million expected by year-end, aims to reach over 175,000 farmers, expanding its reach from the 100,000 farmers supported in the first phase.
Over the next six years, RDDP II will construct or rehabilitate 164 milk storage and processing facilities and equip 95 milk collection centers with a digitalized milk transaction management system. This expansion includes 13 new districts, further scaling up efforts to boost the dairy sector nationwide.
The project is anticipated to have a profound impact on the livelihoods of dairy farming households. Officials estimate that 80% of households involved in dairy farming will experience a 30% increase in income, and the project is expected to create 3,400 new jobs. Additionally, 45% of these households are expected to improve their nutritional security.
The initiative will support 85,000 households, with a particular focus on empowering women and youth, aiming for 45% and 25% participation, respectively. Floride Nyirangirababyeyi, a smallholder farmer from Nyarugenge Sector in Bugesera District, expressed optimism about the project, highlighting the potential benefits for smallholder farmers like herself.
RDDP II represents a significant step forward in the development of Rwanda's dairy industry, laying the groundwork for a more prosperous and sustainable future for the nation's smallholder farmers.
