Msaada’s dairy cow project aims to enable genocide survivors of the Rwamagana district in eastern Rwanda, and their families, to become self-sufficient.
Then, once that is achieved, to move on to open a dairy co-operative creamery which will create off-farm jobs and contribute to the country generally through the generation of tax revenues. This will allow the co-op members to add value to their milk, bringing in additional income for the family.
The cow project involves sending in-calf dairy heifers from Europe to Rwandan families, enabling them to earn their own living through the sale of surplus milk and extra crops grown as a result of using the cow’s manure as a fertilizer.
European cows have around 10 times greater milk productivity than African breeds and can thrive in Rwanda’s climate when looked after properly.
Whenever possible, Msaada seeks to provide cows to females, and the women are given a cow only after receiving extensive training in its care, including learning how to grow and harvest the crops needed for feed. They also have to build a zero-graze unit for the cow using locally sourced materials with the help of other community members. The cows are presented on condition that the owners will donate the first female calf to the next family in the scheme. This pass-on process is continued repeatedly. In this way the initial investment in a single heifer can go on to aid many families.
The cost of getting the cow to the Rwandan family is £2,500, which includes the air transport costs, training and monitoring. The cows are generally donated by Irish dairy farmers and are sourced through Msaada’s Irish partner, Bóthar, who have been involved in dairy projects in the developing world for over 20 years.
While the initial cost of £2,500 seems relatively high, it is diluted significantly over time as calves from the cow are passed on to other families, and the original recipients start milking additional cows born through an artificial insemination scheme. This scheme uses AI straws, from high quality Irish bulls, which are provided by Msaada to the Rwanda Agriculture Board.
In this way a single heifer can result in 10 high-yielding dairy cows being on the ground in Rwanda within 10 years, all for the initial cost.