Gir'inka beneficiaries urged to pass on heifers to needy neighbours

Beneficiaries of the cattle stocking programme, Gir’inka, have been urged to embrace the culture of giving back to society, by passing on heifers birthed by the donated cows to their needy neighbours. According to the Minister for Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, Geraldine Mukeshimana, this will accelerate the government’s programme of combating malnutrition. Mukeshimana said this last Friday while launching the Gir’inka Week in the Northern Province, a week during which beneficiaries across the country are called upon to pass on heifers. Over 350,000 cows are expected to be distributed by 2017, according to officials. The week was launched in Remera Sector, Musanze District where some former beneficiaries passed on heifers to needy people. Various activities will take place during the Girinka Week, including giving cows to needy families, construction of cowsheds for the most vulnerable, establishment of fodder farms and milk feeding to children. It will also be an opportunity to discuss the progress of the programme and how to increase the number of heifers to be distributed, according to the officials. Over 650 heifers will be distributed in the Northern Province during the week. New beneficiaries commended the government for the programme, adding that it will help them improve their livelihoods, fight malnutrition as well as boost agriculture through use of cow dung manure. “I am happy to receive this cow which will help provide milk to our children. I was always afraid that my children would suffer from malnutrition but I was supported by neighbours who provided milk. It is better now that we have our own cow,” said Dative Akimanizanye, a mother of triplets. “I will get milk for my children and use the manure to cultivate vegetables and other crops to fight malnutrition,” she added. Launched in 2006, Gir’inka seeks to fight malnutrition, increase household incomes through sale of surplus milk and, increase agriculture productivity through the use of cow dung as manure. Officials said the programme has so far seen the distribution of over 198,500 cows which accounts for 56.7 per cent of the target by 2017. Girinka week was launched under the theme; “Tworozanye, twigire twihesha agaciro,” loosely translated to mean; “let’s pass-on heifers towards self-reliance and dignity.”

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Gir'inka beneficiaries urged to pass on heifers to needy neighbours