The government is embarking on implementing targeted strategies to increase production of key crops used for both human consumption and livestock feed despite limited land.

This is in a bid to feed a growing population while supporting livestock productivity, according to the Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources, Telesphore Ndabamenye.

Ndabamenye on Monday, January 19, briefed senators on the government's livestock development strategy, focusing on animal feed availability, existing challenges, and proposed solutions. The session highlighted the growing pressure on food and feed systems amid population growth and limited arable land.

The session came ahead of senators’ nationwide visits to engage with citizens to assess initiatives supporting livestock development, with a particular focus on ensuring the availability of affordable, high-quality animal feed. The visits are scheduled to take place from January 20-28.

The Minister noted that maize and soybean remain the main ingredients in animal feed production. Maize accounts for about 50 per cent and soybean around 30 per cent of total feed composition. However, limited local production and reliance on imports, particularly for soybean, continue to drive up costs.

ALSO READ: Livestock sector players push for strategic cereal reserve amid high feed cost

According to livestock experts, animal feed accounts for up to 70 per cent of livestock production costs, making feed availability and affordability a critical determinant of the sector’s performance.

Speaking to The New Times, Jean de Dieu Hakizimana, Chairperson of the Rwanda Poultry Industry Association, said the high cost of animal feed remains the main challenge facing livestock producers.

He noted that despite the presence of feed factories across the country, prices remain high, raising overall production costs. As a result, producing meat or eggs becomes expensive, and in some cases farmers operate at a loss.

Hakizimana said feed prices are frequently adjusted, often every two to three months, largely due to maize shortages and heavy dependence on imported soybean. Even when maize is harvested locally, he added, stocks often run out in about two months after harvest. Currently, the price of one kilogramme of feed for egg-laying chickens exceeds Rwf700.

Earlier, Hakizimana told The New Times that in 2025, production costs for broilers were higher than market prices, mainly due to expensive industrial feed. Production costs ranged between Rwf3,200 and Rwf3,500 per kilogramme, while market prices often fell to between Rwf2,500 and Rwf3,000, discouraging farmers and contributing to reduced broiler supply.

ALSO RAD: Poultry: What’s behind shortages of broiler meat on the market?

Rethinking land use and boosting yields

Minister Ndabamenye underscored the need to rethink land use consolidation to increase local production of maize, soybean, and other major crops. He also highlighted the importance of expanding fodder production and establishing reserves of processed food by-products, such as molasses and maize bran, to help address feed shortages.

Although land use consolidation has been implemented, production has not yet reached desired levels. With continued population growth and no expansion of available land expected, Ndabamenye said Rwanda must significantly improve yields on existing farmland.

He presented findings from an agricultural yield model based on projections that Rwanda’s population will reach 22 million by 2050, up from the current 14 million.

Under the first scenario, maintaining current yield levels would require about 10.3 million hectares of land, which is impossible given Rwanda’s total land size (more than 2.3 million hectares) and the roughly 1.4 million hectares allocated to agriculture.

The second scenario, applying advanced yield practices, would require about 3.4 million hectares, which he described as unrealistic. The third scenario—adopting best international yields and increasing current output by about 15 times—would require around 1.45 million hectares, which the Minister said was achievable.

Food basket sites

To achieve this productivity shift, Rwanda has introduced Food Basket Sites (FoBaSi), priority production zones designed to maximise yields through concentrated investment. Implementation began in the current fiscal year.

Ndabamenye said Rwanda’s national average maize yield stands at about two tonnes per hectare, which he described as very low due to scattered and inefficient production. Within Food Basket Sites, the target is to reach at least six tonnes per hectare by concentrating resources, inputs, and technical support.

Initially, the government aims to increase productivity by 50 per cent per farming season across 19,548 Food Basket Sites covering more than 587,000 hectares. Of this land, over 495,000 hectares are allocated to crop production, while about 92,000 hectares support zero-grazing systems and fodder production.

ALSO READ: Govt prioritises food basket sites to boost farm yields

Targeted crops include cereals such as maize and rice, which are essential for human consumption, national food reserves, and animal feed.

Addressing supply gaps and imports

Despite efforts to boost local production, Rwanda continues to import some food commodities due to supply gaps. Ndabamenye said improved productivity is expected to gradually reduce imports.

The data he presented to senators showed that Rwanda’s annual maize demand exceeds 874,000 tonnes, while production stood at over 627,000 tonnes in 2024. As a result, the country imported more than 137,000 tonnes of maize that year.

He said irrigation, agricultural mechanisation and improved access to finance are critical to increasing production, particularly within the Food Basket Sites.

Ndabamenye also said that most animal feed factories are operating below capacity, with utilisation estimated at between 40 and 60 percent. Increasing utilisation to 90 percent would significantly improve feed availability nationwide.

He added that the country needs sufficient national stocks of key ingredients such as maize and soybean to stabilise feed production. Currently, about 40 percent of the country’s animal feed needs are met through imports.

Feed diversification and by-products

Processed industrial feed is mainly used for non-ruminant animals such as poultry, pigs, and fish. To reduce pressure on industrial feed, the government is promoting increased forage production, improved land preparation, and the use of high-quality forage seeds.

Farmers are being supported in fodder production and conservation, including access to machinery for harvesting and processing fodder. The government is also strengthening the aggregation and distribution of agro-processing by-products, including brewery waste, maize, wheat and rice bran, and molasses.

The Ministry of Agriculture projects that maize bran production will increase from about 38,000 tonnes in 2024 to over 70,000 tonnes by 2029, while molasses availability is expected to rise from about 2,700 tonnes to more than 7,000 tonnes over the same period.

Distribution will be organised from processing factories to district-level points such as agrovet shops and authorised agents before reaching farmers. Pilot distribution will begin in selected areas, followed by a national rollout supported by digital tracking systems, improved logistics, and quality certification.

Ndabamenye underscored the need to strengthen regulatory frameworks to ensure quality and safety standards for animal feed and agro-processing by-products. He said incentives for feed manufacturers and public–private partnerships, including strategic grain reserves, will be critical.

Senators’ views, recommendations

Senator John Bonds Bideri observed that reliance on imported raw materials contributes significantly to high feed and livestock production costs, calling for increased local production and capacity building for farmers.

Senator Laetitia Nyinawamwiza cited a 2024 Rwanda Governance Board report showing that 54.4 percent of citizens were dissatisfied with access to animal feed, a concern Ndabamenye attributed to limited availability and high prices.

Senator Charles Murigande emphasised that Rwanda’s limited land size means productivity gains must come from intensified research. He compared Rwanda to Israel, whic, despite limited land, produces sufficient food due to strong investment in research.

"Our country’s land is limited, and we do not expect it to expand. What will help us is to invest much greater effort in research, so that we can increase productivity on the same land,” Murigande said.

Future priorities

Looking ahead, Ndabamenye said Rwanda’s animal resources development will be supported by strategic grain reserves, increased private investment in feed production, optimisation of zero-grazing systems, local manufacturing of vaccines and veterinary products, strengthened research, improved water-use efficiency, expanded access to finance, and increased agricultural insurance coverage.