Expensive animal feeds is affecting the productivity of the poultry industry, farmers have said, calling for subsidies to lower the cost.

If the prices for chicken feed are reduced, farmers argue that the livestock industry can significantly improve the livelihood of rural Rwandans, especially in terms of nutrition.

The farmers made their request at the just-concluded poultry exhibition and conference for Sub-Saharan Africa in Kigali.

The conference, which attracted delegates from 50 countries worldwide, discussed the current and emerging issues in the poultry industry.

The cost of feed in Rwanda is considered by experts as the main expense in poultry farming, accounting for between 60 and 70 per cent of the inputs for farmers.

Andrew Butare, the Chairperson of Rwanda Poultry Industry Association told The New Times that the price for a kilogramme of chicken feed is between Rwf330 and Rwf400 depending on the type of the feed and age of the chicken.

"Prices have been high and the trend suggests that they might continue to rise,” he said.

Agnes Uwamahoro, a poultry farmer from Bugesera District, said: "Farmers wish that the prices be reduced to Rwf100 or Rwf150 per kilogramme in order to generate returns on their investments.”

While the prices of the feeds are high and projected to rise further, the market price for poultry products remain unchanged

For instance, the farm-gate price for an egg is Rwf70.

"I think the long-term solution is to ensure a steady supply of raw materials.”

For Butare, the price can be reduced if the government devises strategies to bring down the cost of raw materials such as maize and soybean that are needed to produce the feed.

The Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources, Gérardine Mukeshimana, said that the high cost of feeds is driven by the high demand for raw materials such as maize, which are also used for human consumption.

"There are other raw materials or crops such as cassava that can be used. We are encouraging people to be innovative so as to use more ingredients,” she said.

The government says it has plans to increase the production of grains and cereals to ensure a steady supply.

"The major concern they (feed factories) have is [lack of] the capacity to buy needed supply during the harvest period when the price is still low. That is what we are considering with them so that means to achieve it be obtained,” she said.

According to Rwanda Livestock Master Plan developed in December 2017, Rwanda’s chicken population stood at about 7 million layers, broilers and indigenous chicken, while egg production was 243 million eggs per year then.

editor@newtimesrwanda.com