Enhancing the animal feed value chain for pig and poultry production in Rwanda

Insufficient availability and access to affordable and nutritious animal feeds constitute the most severe problem in pig and poultry value chains in Rwanda. According to a policy study conducted in five districts of Rwanda in September and October 2022, this problem leads to increased malnutrition of pigs and poultry reared in the country, reduced number of pig and poultry populations due to drop out of farm owners from the business, increased number of thieves from pig and poultry farms, increased human malnutrition due to deficiency of animal resources proteins and of course increased poverty. Furthermore, this problem is aggravated by recent unusually high price fluctuations of animal feeds in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, pig starter feeds in Kigali costed 455 RWF/kg in September 2022, an increase of 82 percent from 250 RWF/kg in 2019. Feed price is considered as a major concern for farmers as well as feed millers.

The root causes of this problem affect both the input and output sides of the animal feed value chain, including:

1. Low productivity in maize and soybeans in Rwanda compared to the Strategic Plan for Agriculture Transformation (PSTA4) and Livestock Master Plan targets, and competition between human consumption and use in animal feeding which leads to insufficient or expensive inputs in the feed industry.

2. Uneven availability of animal feeds across districts in Rwanda, especially in remote areas where prices for pig and poultry feeds are significantly higher than in areas around the feed mills that are concentrated in Kigali, Rwamagana and Musanze towns only.

3. Very weak distribution channels for animal feeds, particularly in remote areas, and a lack of trust regarding feed products quality.

4. Varying quality of animal feeds, with negative impacts on animal nutrition.

5. Limited collaboration among farmers and weak associations at farmer level, leading to inefficient procurement of animal feeds.

6. Weak collaboration between feed millers regarding import of feed inputs causing inefficient supply chain.

7. Fragile collaboration between farmers and feed millers