RUSAGARA MUVUNANKIKO Valens
Milk production in Nyagatare District has dropped sharply during the dry season, falling from about 120,000 litres per day during the rainy season to only 24,000 litres per day currently.
The district authorities say the decline is linked to several factors, including farmers’ failure to regularly visit their farms, alcohol abuse among some herders, inadequate communication between farmers and herders, and insufficient preparation of pasture and water for the dry season.
The concerns were raised on Friday, August 21, 2026, during a consultative meeting on livestock development that brought together livestock farmers who operate farms in Nyagatare but live in Kigali, young people from Nyagatare living in Kigali, and other stakeholders.
The Acting Mayor of Nyagatare District, Kakooza Henry, said that about 35% of the farms in Nyagatare are owned by people living in Kigali, making it difficult for some owners to regularly monitor their livestock.
He urged farmers to make time to visit their farms and closely supervise their livestock.
“We are asking them to take at least 48 hours to visit their farms. They leave them to herders, and you find that the herder’s understanding does not match what the farmer wants,” Kakooza said.
He also raised concerns about alcohol abuse among some herders, saying it sometimes causes delays in reporting important information about cows, particularly when they are ready for artificial insemination.
The district’s artificial insemination rate currently stands at 33%, according to the district authorities.
Kakooza said delays in informing farmers that a cow is ready for insemination can result in missed opportunities and losses for farmers.
“Many of the herders you have are drunkards. A cow shows signs in the morning, but the herder tells you in the evening that he is going to sleep. You then call the insemination technician too late, and the cow is not inseminated at the right time,” he said.
Asiimwe, a livestock farmer who lives in Kigali but farms in Nyagatare, said staying away from the farm had previously made it difficult for her to get accurate information about her livestock.
She said some herders failed to inform her on time when cows became sick or when milk production declined.
“I have now changed my approach and moved closer to my farm. I also put in place measures that allow me to know the condition of my cows today. I now have cows producing 20 litres of milk per day, and many of them are producing well,” she said.
Another model farmer said many livestock owners living in Kigali were effectively farming “by phone” because they relied almost entirely on information provided by their herders.
He urged farmers to change their approach, regularly monitor their farms and treat livestock farming as a business.
Nyagatare has 177,981 young people aged between 16 and 30, representing about 27.2% of the district’s population.
District authorities said many young people complete their studies and move to Kigali in search of jobs, despite having access to land and livestock at home that could provide opportunities for wealth creation.
Kakooza said some young people earn salaries of about Rwf50,000 or more in Kigali, while their families back home own large farms and grazing areas that could generate greater income if properly managed.
Ndayambaje Innocent, one of the young people who attended the meeting, said the youth were ready to change their mindset.
“We have blamed ourselves enough, but we are now going to change and make proper use of all the opportunities we have. We promise the authorities,” he said.
Nyagatare District is also implementing different interventions aimed at increasing milk and meat production, including the Rwanda Dairy Development Project Phase II (RDDP 2).
The district has mobilised farmers to benefit from RDDP 2 subsidies, particularly support aimed at helping them access equipment and infrastructure needed for agriculture and livestock production.
So far, 253 farmers have been approved under the first cohort, while 1,549 farmers have applied for different farm equipment under the second cohort.
In partnership with RDDP 2, the district is also rehabilitating two valley dams to increase access to water for livestock and help farmers cope with dry-season conditions.
The district has additionally identified 18 farms to begin cattle fattening for beef production, with the aim of expanding commercial livestock farming and increasing farmers’ income.
Nyagatare covers 1,919 square kilometres and has a population of 653,861, including 318,740 males and 335,121 females.
The district has 14 sectors, 106 cells and 628 villages, and borders Uganda and Tanzania.
Agriculture and livestock, tourism, services and trade are among the district’s main economic activities.
District authorities believe that better farm management, early preparation of pasture and water, closer supervision of livestock, and increased use of programmes such as RDDP 2 can help Nyagatare increase milk and meat production and make livestock farming a stronger source of employment and economic development.
