Gatsibo farmers to get modern milk collection centre

GATSIBO-CODEM-Jyambere Mworozi, a livestock farmers’ cooperative in Ngarama Sector, is set to get its own milk collection centre.The centre, being constructed by the East African Dairy Development (EADD), will help members to supply quality milk. Elise Kamanzi Uwiragiye, a veterinary specialist in charge of livestock farming in EADD, said that the collection centre will be up and running in two months.

Friday, August 19, 2011
The new milk cooler at a collection centre in Gatsibo . The New Times/ File photo

GATSIBO-CODEM-Jyambere Mworozi, a livestock farmers’ cooperative in Ngarama Sector, is set to get its own milk collection centre.

The centre, being constructed by the East African Dairy Development (EADD), will help members to supply quality milk.

Elise Kamanzi Uwiragiye, a veterinary specialist in charge of livestock farming in EADD, said that the collection centre will be up and running in two months.

Speaking to The New Times, members of the cooperative said that the centre was timely as it will solve problems like poor transportation of milk products.

"We lacked a milk collection centre like other cooperatives. This made it difficult to supply quality milk to the market,” one of the farmers said.

Alphonse Ryumugabe, the acting Executive Secretary of Ngarama Sector, said that the new milk collection centre will increase the price of milk in the sector.

"They (farmers) have been selling milk at low prices, but with a milk cooler, they will be able to store the milk thus control the prices of milk products,” he said.

As a way of increasing milk production, Jean Claude Mpumuje, a member of the cooperative said that they have embarked on artificial insemination to improve the qualities of the cows so that they can produce more milk.

Launched in 2007, the cooperative has over 460 members.

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