DAIRY INDUSTRY PLAYERS COMMIT TO STREAMLINE MILK VALUE CHAIN

Stakeholders involved in dairy industry in Western Province have committed themselves to respect and put into effect all regulations in place meant to streamline milk value chain in the country.

The stakeholders made the commitment on September 27, 2017 during a consultative meeting that took place in Rubavu District. Chaired by Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources, Dr Gerardine Mukeshimana, the meeting was attended by the governor of Western Province, Alphonse Munyentwali, district officials, milk processing industry representatives, milk traders, and dairy farmers mainly from Gishwati zone and surrounding areas – known for supplying abundant milk.

Minister Mukeshimana reminded the participants to the meeting to enforce existing regulations that have been put in place in order to strengthen milk value chain. She added that milk should be collected, transported to MMCs for value addition before selling it.

The ministerial order dated 10/02/2016 regulating the collection, transportation and selling of milk says milk shall be collected at a milk collection center where it shall be tested for quality before sale.

“No raw milk should cross the country’s borders without added value anymore,” the minister told dairy farmers, MCC managers, milk transporters and processors.

During the meeting, dairy farmers were urged to modernize their activities in a bid to increase milk produce and Mukamira Dairy committed itself to equip the dairy farmers with skills that will enable them to increase milk productivity and improve milk quality.

Milk transporters have been urged to form a cooperative in order to enhance milk collection and transportation in line with the regulations in place.

The dairy subsector is important to the economic development of Rwanda. The industry offers a pathway out of poverty for large numbers of households keeping livestock and for those who provide services and value addition throughout the supply chain.

Since the post Genocide period, Rwanda has known a tremendous rise in milk production, due to numerous developments programs namely one cow per poor family, intensive breeding and Zero grazing program.

Follow the link below for more information on the ministerial order n° 001/11.30 of 10/02/2016 regulating the collection, transportation and selling of milk

www.minagri.gov.rw/fileadmin/user_upload/documents/Law_and_Regulations/OFFICIAL_GAZETTE_ON_MILK__1_.pdf

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