Rwanda funds youth to boost milk production
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The government of Rwanda allocated approximately Rwf100 million (about $100,000 USD) to support young entrepreneurs in producing hydroponic fodder for livestock in Gatsibo and Rwamagana districts.
The Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB) is leading the project to address feed shortages that reduce milk production during dry seasons. Youth cooperatives and companies will grow feed using hydroponics, a method that uses water instead of soil, and sell it to dairy farmers.
This initiative aims to increase Rwanda’s daily milk production from three million litres to ten million litres by 2029. Hydroponic fodder can be grown quickly using less land and water than traditional farming, offering a solution for areas with limited resources and drought. RAB will initially support ten production sites at milk collection centres and plans to expand the program to other districts, focusing on groups of young people rather than individuals.
Farmers already using hydroponic fodder have seen positive results. Julienne Mushimiyimana, a farmer in Gicumbi District, increased milk production from seven to over ten litres per cow daily after adopting the technology. A pilot project in Eastern Province showed a 42 percent increase in milk production for participating farmers, alongside improvements in feed quality. The government is also working to expand land used for traditional fodder cultivation, with hydroponics intended to supplement these efforts.
