Over 1,000 residents in different sectors of Gicumbi district have lifted themselves out of poverty by embracing the rearing of small livestock.
The initiative has helped to end malnutrition in many households, including that of Odeth Iribagiza, who now no longer has to worry about her children's stunted growth due to poverty.
According to her, rearing chickens has helped her to end malnutrition in her family, besides that she also said that she has managed to enroll her children back in school after a gift of 10 chickens from her neighbor Phoebe Nzamukosha.
She said, "For many days, I wondered how long my children would remain stunted because I was poor. I could not afford the costs of buying eggs, but nowadays malnutrition has become history at my home, my children eat eggs as they want, I am no longer included in families with stunted children in my village, thanks to the Ministry of Agriculture and Prism Project, we are living a healthy life.”
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The Ministry of Agriculture&039;s Prism Project is partnering with Gicumbi District to empower poor rural men, women, and youth to participate in the transformation of the Rwanda livestock sub-sector and enhance their resilience. The project, which aims to reduce poverty, reaches 15 districts and targets to benefit 26,355 poor and food-insecure rural households with low income, targeting 337,500 households by 2026.
The program has helped to reduce stunting figures since its implementation, according to Parfaite Uwera, the Vice Mayor in charge of economic development in Gicumbi District. Uwera notes that besides fighting malnutrition, the project has also introduced self-reliance where poor families are graduating from relying on government aid.
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The Agriculture Ministry in partnership with Prism forecasts to purchase 33,750 chickens this financial year, which will help alleviate 337,500 citizens in 15 Districts including; Ruhango, Huye, Gisagara, Nyaruguru, Nyamagabe, Gicumbi, Burera, Musanze, Gakenke Rulindo, Nyamasheke, Karongi, Rutsiro, Ngororero, and Nyabihu from poverty.