March 25, 2014

Rwanda's milk exports rise over coffee

During the fourth quarter of 2013, milk and milk products emerged the main source of export revenues in Rwanda which brought in US$22.41 million, for the first time surpassing coffee, the country's traditional major foreign exchange earner, which brought in US$17.88 million only.

This is according to figures released by the National Institute of Statistics Rwanda.

Experts have attributed increased milk exports to the country's Girinka project and increased finances injected into the sector.

Burundi, DR Congo and Tanzania are the leading export destinations for Rwandan milk and milk products-consuming about 15,115 kilogrammes per year.

Frank O'Brien, the Rwanda Dairy Competitiveness Programme chief of party, said a lot of progress had been made by the sector over the years; through implementation of government and donor-funded milk projects, including Land O'Lakes, a USAID-funded project.

There is a lot of progress being made towards improving dairy farming such as establishment of quality milk infrastructure like milk collection centres and cooling equipment. This has improved the quality of milk and made it more profitable in regional markets.

Andrew Kagabo, the Girinka programme national co-coordinator, said this year the project planned to distribute over 4,000 cows, which will further boost milk production and ultimately exports.

Figures from Rwanda Agriculture Board indicate that Rwanda's milk production has increased by 11% over the past two years.