€15 million funding boosting veterinary services

By The Inspirer writer.

The €15 million project that was funded by Enabel-Belgian Development Agency is improving private veterinary service delivery and so far, 50 proximity private veterinarians/veterinary technicians have been given motorcycles and first package of medicines & other livestock inputs/equipment.

Tesfaye Haile Dargie, The Intervention Manager-Livestock at Enable said that the multi-billion project will support small stock (pig, poultry and small ruminants) farming and market and reduce the prices of animal feeds and improve the quality of breeds as well.

“It will enhance productivity through the value chain, private investment into poultry and pig value chain, animal feeds and others. This must go in line with building capacity of private veterinarians because they do not have resources to start businesses. Another thing is competition from the government that subsidizes veterinary service and becomes difficult for the private sector that comes in as private operators,” he said.

The 5-year project seeks to support 12,000 poultry and pig farmers and at least 9000 soybeans and maize producers.

The support is under project dubbed “ Partnership for Resilience and Inclusive for Small Stock Market (PRISM)” aims to improve poultry and pig farming sectors in 10 districts Nyamagabe, Gisagara, Muhanga, Bugesera, Rwamagana, Gicumbi, Rulindo, Musanze, Rubavu and Rusizi.

The project seeks to develop sustainable value chains; sustainable feed, pig and poultry value chain, increase productivity and profitability in the poultry and pig value chain actors and also develop affordable, reliable and effective veterinary services.

“We have veterinarians at the local level paid by the government but they are very few. There were so many but had no financial capacity to invest in such a business. That is why giving them transport means and needed equipment will revamp poultry and pig farming by improving veterinary services,” said Eugene Niyonzima, Animal Resources Processing and Biotechnology Division Manager at Rwanda Agricultural and Animal Resources Board (RAB).

He added that the support will also help to slash prices charged on veterinary services.

According to Jean Paul Munyakazi, a farmer, and Legal Representative of Imbaraga Farmers’ Organization, veterinary services are a viable business considering that poultry and pig populations are increasing in the country.

Quality and affordable animal feeds, quality and affordable veterinary services are expected to help poultry and pig farmers increase production and profits to be able to tap into different markets.

Andrew Butare, the Chairman of Rwanda Poultry Industry Association (R.P.I.A) said that some poultry farmers said poultry farming has been facing different challenges including limited lack of access to quality and affordable veterinary services.

“We do not get veterinarians on time. Sometimes when we need vaccines for poultry, you realize they do not have it because they do not have enough equipment. This has a bad impact on poultry because they die. The veterinarians need enough equipment, vaccines and other medicines storage facilities. The support to veterinarians is timely,” he said.

The lack of veterinarians with skills in treating pigs, poor breeds of pigs, substandard abattoirs as well as expensive and substandard animal feeds is some of the challenges hurting the fortunes of pig farmers according to Jean Claude Shirimpumu, the Chairman of Rwanda Pig Farmers Association.

 Shirimpumu, who is rearing between 800 and 1,000 pigs, said that building the capacity of veterinarians will save pig and poultry sectors from deadly diseases.

“Quality veterinary services, trained veterinarians with enough equipment are primary services we have gaps in vaccination. Private veterinarians’ capacity needs to be strengthened to help prevent diseases. Increasing production must go along with disease prevention,” he said.