A 400 kilogrammes Duroc boar, prized for its rapid growth and high-quality meat, is on display at the 18th National Agriculture Show running from June 18 to 27. A Duroc boar is a male pig of the Duroc breed, which is one of the most well-known and widely used pig breeds in commercial pork production. ALSO READ: Rwandan farmers bank on high-yield pig breeds from Europe According to Olivier Mwitenawe, a veterinarian monitoring pig farming at Ntarama Pigs Farm Ltd in Bugesera District, the Duroc boar has supplied 2,613 doses of pig semen and helped produce 6,968 piglets within two and a half years. “The Duroc boar consumes two kilogrammes of nutritious animal feed and drinks 15 litres of water per day. This may seem little, but it is enough since the feed is very nutritious. We have also partnered with Zipline to deliver semen to pig farmers,” he explained. ALSO READ: Timely insemination spurs pig production in Nyamagabe The Duroc is a meat pig, which is also known to grow very quickly. Pigs with Duroc blood can reach up to 120 kg in just seven months. Farmers sell pigs based on weight. A kilo goes for Rwf4,500. “Local traditional pig breeds can even take a year to only have 40 kg because they do not grow quickly. They are also not well fed,” Mwitenawe said. Ntarama Pigs Farm Ltd started with 10 pigs in 2017. Since then it has sold over 2,000 pigs. “We also launched a pig abattoir in March 2025. We buy pigs from farmers for pork production,” he noted. The firm received new equipment at the beginning of 2025. ALSO READ: Why govt is constructing pig abattoirs countrywide The upgraded slaughtering chain will help transform the pork business by producing high-quality pork meat that meets the highest standards of hygiene. With the introduction of these advanced machines, consumers will have access to high-quality, standardised pork products. He said the abattoir has the capacity to process 50 pigs per day. “Pig farmers were struggling with access to markets, and therefore our abattoir will buy pigs from farmers. For pork production, we also have the Pietrain pig breed,” he said. The standardised breeds of domestic pigs called “Pietrain and Duroc” boost pork production as each pig can weigh up to 500 kilogrammes. ALSO READ: Two firms acquire pig slaughtering machines to boost quality Pig farmers in Rwanda have begun importing such modern pig breeds from Europe for higher yields. According to Jean Claude Shirimpumu, a pig farmer who runs Vision Agribusiness Farm Ltd in Gicumbi District, one of the standardised breeds of domestic pigs, called “Landrace,” which he showcased at the agricultural exhibition, can produce up to 22 piglets. Govt targets 31,000 tonnes of pork production Rwanda targets increasing pork production from 22,839 tonnes in 2023 up to 31,144 tonnes (about 36 per cent) in 2029, according to the Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB). In 2018, pork production represented 21% of meat production in Rwanda, and the pig population was estimated to be 1,330,461. The current pig population is estimated at 1,123,075 heads. ALSO READ: Govt injects Rwf1.2 billion into modern markets for small livestock The decrease in the pig population was attributed to high mortality experienced in 2022/2023 due to African Swine Fever outbreak, swine erysipelas, and leptospirosis diseases. To cope with the diseases, the government’s five-year plan seeks to vaccinate 808,614 pigs in 2025/26, 875,998 pigs in 2026/27, 1,145,536 pigs in 2027/28, and 1,583,535 pigs in 2028/29. Currently, only between 30 and 40 per cent of the pig population are improved breeds that provide good produce in Rwanda. RAB aims to modernise 85% of Rwanda’s pig farming sector by 2029. It said 65 per cent of pig farmers have already adopted artificial insemination technology. Theogene Ayirwanda, a Rusizi based farmer said he has been rearing traditional breeds for eight years before embracing artificial insemination with semen from a pig breeder in Gicumbi District. “With the first insemination, my pig managed to produce 22 piglets,” he said. Pietrain, Landrace, Camborough, Duroc, and Large White breeds can help pigs produce around 20 piglets, while traditional breeds can only produce fewer than 10 piglets. The government injects around Rwf150 million per fiscal year in the modernisation of pig farming for boar management, purchasing consumables for semen creation, training of technicians, and purchasing artificial insemination equipment. Artificial insemination (AI) technology in pigs is a newly introduced breeding method in Rwanda. Only a few semen production centres exist in the country. These include Kisaro Centre in Rulindo District, Kageyo Centre in Gicumbi District, Busogo Centre in Musanze District, Muyumbu Breeding Centre in Rwamagana District, Ntarama Centre in Bugesera District, RAB Station Muhanga, and Heritage College of Agri-Farming Centre in Rusizi District. At these centres, semen, imported breeds, and their crosses are also sold to farmers; therefore, they are seen as breeding stocks for pig population genetic improvement. However, in many areas of the country, the scarcity of semen production centres leads to natural mating techniques being the only choice in pig production among smallholder farmers. ALSO READ: Government seeks to revamp livestock industry with Rwf250 billion strategy According to Rwanda’s livestock development strategy running from 2024 to 2029, the government will certify 100 pig breeders and multipliers. There is also a target to establish 10 pig abattoirs and pork processing factories every year from 2025 to 2029, while 1,000 model farmers will be established.
