MPs cow project changes lives of Gisagara women

Speciose Niyonsaba, a resident of Kibirizi Sector of Gisagara District has clean running water in her home. She also owns a banana plantation and cattle from which her five grandchildren enjoy nutritious feeding. Niyonsaba, is one of the beneficiaries of cows donated by the Rwanda Women Parliamentary Forum (FFRP) in Gisagara since 2010. The cows were donated to help uplift lives of vulnerable women. One cow was given to one vulnerable woman in each of the 13 sectors making up the district. Another one cow was given to each of the women’s associations that have been supporting women’s development in the district. “I got Rwf90,000 from milk sales and I used Rwf85,000 to extend water to my home. It was hard for me to get water for domestic use and for the cow‘s consumption, but now that is assured. My five grandchildren were suffering from malnutrition but now they are absolutely healthy thanks to the milk I get from the cow,” she told The New Times last Thursday. Niyonsaba, got the cow from Therese Niyonsaba, the first beneficiary. She also grows beans and bananas which have also contributed to her family welfare. She has managed to pass on a calf to another woman after her cow produced. Chantal Twizeyimana, another beneficiary resident of Kibirizi Sector, said agriculture produce has been impressive after using manure from the cow. We are able to pay for health insurance and tackle malnutrition among children in our village thanks to the milk,” she told The New Times, adding she gets 12 liters of milk from the cow per day. Members of FFRP last week were in Gisagara District to evaluate the project. MP Jacqueline Mukakanyamugenge told The New Times on Thursday that their assessment revealed that those who received cows live better lives. Milk production has transformed their lives and social status,” Mukakanyamugenge said. MP Mukakanyamugenge (R) interacts with a beneficiary from Mugombwa Sector (L) as the Gisagara District mayor Léandre Karekezi (2nd R) and an identified man look on last week. She was accompanied by MPs Speciose Mukandutiye, Gaston Rusiha and Jean Thierry Karemera to conduct the evaluation exercise in Gisagara District. “It is an initiative that needs reinforcement so that it benefits more people because those we talked to but are yet to get them told us that they also need cows to push ahead,” she said. Mukakanyamugenge said the cows have been instrumental in combating malnutrition in homes through milk provision and manure. Some cows produce up to 10 litres of milk per day while others below five litres per day. She called on women to properly look after the cows to ensure better results. The MPs noted that beneficiaries did not express any issue concerning veterinary services, an indication that there is good cooperation between the beneficiaries and extension workers. Louise Uwimana, the veterinary officer of Kibirizi Sector said they work in collaboration with cell development officers to help farmers maintain animal health. MP Speciose Mukandutiye said most of the cows have produced and some beneficiaries have passed on calves to other people in the community. She however, cautioned the beneficiaries against selling all the cows. “The cows were given out to help uplift living standards of beneficiaries. One can easily slide back to needy category if they sell them off, we want them to raise cattle on long-term basis,” she said. However, some reports said a few cows in the district have succumbed to diseases, due to limited attention and failure to take advice of the vets. In Gisagara District, FFRP donated 16 cows. The women’s parliamentary forum also donated 17 cows to (vulnerable) women in Burera District, 19 cows to Gakenke District women and 14 cows to women in Nyaruguru District, 13 cows in Rutsiro District, five cows in Rubavu District, 15 cows in Ngororero District as well as 14 cows in Gatsibo District. In total, FFRP donated 113 cows to vulnerable women’ and or associations of women intended to promote women’s welfare. .

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MPs cow project changes lives of Gisagara women