Rwanda plans to increase daily milk production by about 135%, from 2.9 million litres to 6.8 million litres by 2029, through a number of targeted interventions, the Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources Telesphore Ndabamenya said on Friday.
He was speaking during a workshop on enhancing food security and nutrition.
"The dairy subsector faces low productivity due to limited access to improved genetics, weak artificial insemination services, poor nutrition from costly and scarce quality feeds, as well as inadequate animal health, and water shortages,” he explained.
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To address these challenges, he said, proposed transformative actions include the Songa Centre, which will produce 972,000 semen doses. In addition, he noted that 1,500 new artificial insemination technicians will be trained by 2029.
Importation of high-genetic-merit bulls
The Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB) has received the first batch of 10 high-genetic-merit Holstein-Friesian bulls, strengthening the national artificial insemination programme and accelerating genetic improvement in the livestock sector.
The bulls were sourced from leading cattle breeders in Germany.
An additional 20 high-genetic-merit bulls will be delivered in April this year, including Holstein-Friesian, Jersey, and Brown Swiss for dairy production, as well as Angus and Charolais for beef production.
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This investment supports the establishment of a Centre of Excellence in Bovine Genetic Improvement at Songa, Huye District, which aims to provide improved dairy and beef genetics, promote advanced reproductive technologies such as artificial insemination and embryo transfer, and serve as a national hub for training, research, and innovation.
Climate-resilient fodder
Ndabamenya added that scaling up climate-resilient fodder production and supporting youth-led animal feed projects will also contribute to increasing milk production.
Regarding water access, he said boreholes will be increased from 49 to 550, while rehabilitating valley dams will support over 300,000 cows and 25,000 farmers.
To improve veterinary services, he highlighted plans to establish new clinics, implement digital disease surveillance, and strengthen private-led veterinary services and drug management systems.
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From 2025/2026 to 2028/2029, the agriculture ministry plans to work with private veterinarians through the Rwanda Council of Veterinary Doctors (RCVD) programme and provide Community Animal Health Workers (CAHWs) with the tools and support they need to reach more farmers.
During the same period, under FASPOL support, a Polish manufacturer specialising in dairy equipment, the government will improve the milk sector by renovating 130 milk collection centres (MCCs), building 47 new ones, and increasing milk cooling coverage to 82 percent, equivalent to around 1.32 million litres per day.
MP Théogène Munyangeyo emphasised that increasing both the quantity and quality of animal feed is key to boosting production.
"Expensive animal feeds could also push up milk and meat prices,” added Senator Alphonse Nkubana.
Milk in combating child malnutrition
Assumpta Ingabire, Director General of the National Child Development Agency (NCDA), said that increased milk production could reduce malnutrition and stunting among children.
Rwanda has recorded a decline in child undernutrition, with stunting falling from 33 percent in 2020 to 27 percent in 2025, according to the 2021–2025 Demographic and Health Survey (DHS).