LIVESTOCK FARMERS CAUTIONED OVER PASTURELAND MISMANAGEMENT

Livestock farmers have been urged to comply with legal provisions regulating the use and management of pastureland in Eastern Province in a bid to modernize dairy farming in the province.

The call was made on October 12, 2017 during a meeting that brought together farmers, Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources, Ministry of Local Government, Ministry of Land and Forest, and district mayors in the province.

A recent inspection has revealed that some farmers have illegally turned part of the pastures into farmland for crop growing. However, the pasture must be used for livestock farming, otherwise risk losing it; the farmers have been warned.

Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources, Dr Gerardine Mukeshimana, told the farmers to use properly the available scarce land to modernize livestock farming.

The Minister also reminded the farmers to exploit their pastures by growing fodder for their cattle and embracing genetic improvement of their cattle breeds in order to increase dairy productivity.

Minister of Local Government, Francis Kaboneka, urged the farmers to take care of different infrastructure facilities such as valley dams provided by the government in order provide the cattle with enough water supply during dry seasons.

There are 13 dams – including six in Kayonza, six in Nyagatare and one in Gatsibo Districts – that were constructed last year by the government. Each dam has capacity to serve 10,000 cows for four months. More dams are also expected to be constructed in Eastern Province in the near future.

Earlier on the same day, district officials had been tasked to handle all existing issues in pastures management to ensure that they are put to good use. The officials have also been tasked to work closely with the farmer cooperatives to ensure that their Milk Collection Centers (MCC) work professionally.

Part of eastern province, mainly Nyagatare, Gatsibo and Kayonza Districts, is considered as of the of Rwanda’s milk sheds with great potential.

For more information on ministerial order regulating pasture management (Kinyarwanda Version), follow the link below:

www.minirena.gov.rw/fileadmin/Land_Subsector/Laws__Policies_and_Programmes/Laws/Amabwiriza_Inzuri_MINAGRI_17102012.pdf 

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