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Residents of Kayonza district have expressed satisfaction for produce from their cattle breeding.
Uwajeneza Donatha
May 23, 2023 - 11:02
Farmers in Kayonza district are proud of the produce they get from livestock thanks to good leadership which provides water and wells for irrigation leading to an increase in milk production, hence no cow dies easily when they are on their way to get water for cows.
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Cattle keepers in Kayonza district are proud of the produce they get from
livestock thanks to good leadership as authorities are building stock tank pool and
wells for irrigation which have led to an increase of milk production and no
cattle die easily when farmers are on their way to get water for them.
Some farmers in Murundi sector in Kayonza district say that since 2018 they are
relieved because their cows no longer die and lack milk production, thanks to
KIIWP constructed a stock tank pool for them. In an interview with ISANGO
STAR, one of the farmers said“They used to milk out five liters but nowadays they
milk out five or more liters of milk ”
“ They helped us by giving us stock tank pool, now people collect water so that
cows don’t walk a long distance in search for water” Cows used to die due to lack
of water ”
Another said “Before we got water we used to collect 6,000 liters of milk but now
we have 8 liters, approximately 9 thousand liters.”
NYEMEMZI Bosco, the mayor of Kayonza district says that the district
collaborated with KIIWP project, the farmers were helped to get water from wells
which led to an increase in livestock production.
He said“Kayonza district is a district with a lot of livestock activities where KIIWP
has built about 15 water dams now we have 26dams because of the contribution of
this project…”
Usabyimbabazi Madeleine, the acting Managing Director of the project said that
the projects operate from this area to help people and construct infrastructure to
cope with climate change. She said “In 2016 there was first aid by providing water
, in fact, there were many dams but they dried up, so the government intervened by
bringing water and providing 8 water tank vehicles for water supply.
She further said" This project started with the main objective of helping to build
capacity, fighting climate change especially drought for farmers in Kayonza
district .”
Gashayija Benon, the executive secretary of Murundi sector said that is one of
the 12 sectors in Kayonza district with livestock farming stressing that in 2016
cows used to walk 15 kilometers in search for water.
He had this to say" I remember in 2016 we lost 362 cows due to dehydration just
in four months! Water is the main thing for livestock even if you may have pasture,
you find people using the same water dam, and other areas had dried up.” So, it
was a very bad situation. Now we have about 22000 cows….”
In Kayonza district, there are about 70,000 cows, which produce more than
22,500 liters of milk per day. 43,177 cows graze in pastures while almost 25,000
are reared in cow shade.
The second phase of this Rwanda government project KIIWP started in April last
year 2022, it will last for six years.
The project aims to support residents in 9 sectors of Kayonza district in order to
cope with climate change which causes drought.
It is expected that this project will cost $ 85 million, the phase was allocated $ 24
million will the second cost $ 61 million.
Written by Emilienne KAYITESI; Edited by Donatha UWAJENEZA, and translated by GAKUBA FELIX ABDULJABAR
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