Thumbnail Image

Enhancing the animal feed value chain for pig and poultry production in Rwanda

Year of publication 2023

Place of publication Rome, Italy ;

Pages 10p.

Author FAO

Publisher FAO ;

Product type Policy brief

Synopsis (short abstract) Insufficient availability and access to affordable and nutritious animal feeds constitute the most severe problem in pig and poultry value chains in Rwanda. According to a policy study conducted in five districts of Rwanda in September and October 2022, this problem leads to increased malnutrition of pigs and poultry reared in the country, reduced number of pig and poultry populations due to drop out of farm owners from the business, increased number of thieves from pig and poultry farms, increased human malnutrition due to deficiency of animal resources proteins and of course increased poverty. Furthermore, this problem is aggravated by recent unusually high price fluctuations of animal feeds in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, pig starter feeds in Kigali costed 455 RWF/kg in September 2022, an increase of 82 percent from 250 RWF/kg in 2019. Feed price is considered as a major concern for farmers as well as feed millers. The root causes of this problem affect both the input and output sides of the animal feed value chain, including: 1. Low productivity in maize and soybeans in Rwanda compared to the Strategic Plan for Agriculture Transformation (PSTA4) and Livestock Master Plan targets, and competition between human consumption and use in animal feeding which leads to insufficient or expensive inputs in the feed industry. 2. Uneven availability of animal feeds across districts in Rwanda, especially in remote areas where prices for pig and poultry feeds are significantly higher than in areas around the feed mills that are concentrated in Kigali, Rwamagana and Musanze towns only. 3. Very weak distribution channels for animal feeds, particularly in remote areas, and a lack of trust regarding feed products quality. 4. Varying quality of animal feeds, with negative impacts on animal nutrition. 5. Limited collaboration among farmers and weak associations at farmer level, leading to inefficient procurement of animal feeds. 6. Weak collaboration between feed millers regarding import of feed inputs causing inefficient supply chain. 7. Fragile collaboration between farmers and feed millers

Cite this content as:

FAO. 2023. Enhancing the animal feed value chain for pig and poultry production in Rwanda. Rome.

https://doi.org/10.4060/cc5296en

Language English

Also available in:
No results found.

Related items

Showing items related by metadata.

  • Thumbnail Image
    Policy brief
    Small livestock development in Rwanda: enhancing the policy environment for pig and poultry value chains 2023
    Also available in:
    No results found.
    In recent years, much has been accomplished to develop the small livestock subsector in Rwanda. The Livestock Master Plan (LMP) 2017–2022 and the Fourth Strategic Plan for Agricultural Transformation (PSTA 4) 2018–2024 have proposed and attracted investments that have improved productivity of small livestock value chains including better piggery and poultry genetics, feeds and health services. However, this subsector still faces many problems related to policy and the enabling environment. Those problems were identified by a policy analysis involving stakeholder consultations in September and October 2022 and a national policy dialogue held in November 2022, jointly organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Ministry of Agricultural and Animal Resources (MINAGRI). The study was supported by the European Union under the FAO-led TAP-AIS project “Developing capacities in agricultural innovation systems: scaling up the Tropical Agriculture Platform Framework”. The main problems facing small livestock development in Rwanda include: - insufficient access to affordable, suitable and nutritious animal feeds; - limited or poor market infrastructure and processing facilities for animal products; - limited extension and animal health services to control disease outbreaks; - financial constraints to smallholder farmers’ participation in different small livestock value chains; - insufficient means of transport and logistics services for live animals and animal products; - limited access to improved animal breeds; and - poor links between small livestock farmers, feed producers and animal processing facilities.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Book (stand-alone)
    Small livestock development in Rwanda: Policy analysis of pig and poultry value chains 2023
    Also available in:
    No results found.
    In 2022, FAO assessed policies and the enabling environment related to innovation in the small livestock subsector in Rwanda, with a focus on pig and poultry value chains and animal feeds. The consultancy study covered eight districts of Rwanda and included 39 key informant interviews and five focus group discussions. A national policy dialogue event in November 2022 in Kigali validated the findings. The consultative process identified and ranked the main problems and policy issues in pig, poultry and animal feeds value chains in the country: · insufficient access to affordable, suitable and nutritious animal feeds; · low market price for animal products compared to input costs; · lack of markets due to cultural perceptions about consumption of chicken, eggs and grilled pork; · financial constraints to smallholder farmer participation in pigs and poultry value chains; · limited farmer access to improved animal breeds; · limited animal health services related to animal diseases, vaccines and drugs; · poor standards of animal sheds in smallholder farms; · limited or poor market infrastructure and processing facilities for animal products; · limited farmer knowledge and skills for rearing pigs and poultry; · poor links between small livestock farmers, feed producers and animal processing facilities; and · lack of transport and logistics for live animals and animal products. Problems can be turned into opportunities: This report identifies policy interventions that the Government of Rwanda and other stakeholders jointly should undertake to address limited access to animal feeds and to facilitate innovation in pig and poultry value chains in Rwanda. The policy dialogue was held under the project “Developing capacities in agricultural innovation systems: scaling up the Tropical Agriculture Platform Framework (TAP-AIS)”, funded by the European Union.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Book (stand-alone)
    Roots, tubers, plantains and bananas in animal feeding 1992
    Also available in:
    No results found.
Show more

Users also downloaded

Showing related downloaded files

No results found.