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Meat Sector Development in Rwanda

Conference Paper · January 2015

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Meat Sector Development in Rwanda

1. Background

Agriculture contributes 32-34 % of GDP, employs more than 90 percent of the rural population,
and provides 80 percent of the export earnings of Rwanda. The livestock industry contributes 10
percent of the GDP (NISR, 2015). A various estimates have been made for the consumption of
milk and meat in Rwanda. All the reported values indicate that the per capita milk and meat are
below consumption thresholds of 220 liters and 50 kg of meat that FAO/WHO recommends.
The deficit can be accounted for by inadequate production and post-harvest losses along the
production to consumption continuum.

Rwanda is landlocked country and one of the least endowed countries in terms of natural
resources. But the government and people of Rwanda are determined to live up to the
Millennium Development Goals on poverty reduction; food and nutrition security; environment
protection and gender balanced development. Based on an annual agriculture sector growth of 7-
8% the country has revised the per capita income target from US$ 960- US$ 1200 so as to
reduce extreme poverty to 25%; while increasing life expectancy to 65 years; and reducing
malnutrition to 18% by 2020 (Vision 2020). A series of reviews indicate that the government and
people of Rwanda have made significant progress to realization of MDG objectives through
strategic investments in agriculture. The critical gaps remain in the protein and lipid nutrition
which are below the WHO recommendation (World Bank, 2011).

Competition for land between arable and livestock agriculture remains a critical constraints to
address in order to realize the objectives of vision 2020. The GoR has identified investment in
two areas as the most viable option for sustainable progress: 1) intensification and development
of sustainable production systems and 2) professionalization of primary and secondary producers
along the commodity value chains through strategic public-private sector partnerships. In the
Eastern Province the most strategic value chains for intensification and professionalization are
the meat and milk value chains. Compared to meat, the dairy sector development has received
considerable attention from GoR, development partners, civil society organizations and private
sector. The meat sector has lagged behind in this context, and therefore forms the basis for the
investment plan here proposed.

2. Problem Statement

A sustainable meat value chain premises on an innovation system that provides the:

a) Technology for production and processing;

b) The market for the primary (slaughter cattle) and secondary ( hides and skins) products
c) The entrepreneurship for profitable investments in the technology and market development
d) The governance and policies that moderate transactions between producers, processor and
consumers
1
Analysis of FAO statistics (FAOSTAT) suggest that background meat consumption in Rwanda
has been increasing by more than 2000 metric tons per annum (Figure 1). The challenge is to
produce quality meat for quality markets; which starts with the right animal; fed correctly to read
slaughter weights at the right time; and handled in the right manner to ensure quality meat and
public health.

Figure 1: Meat consumption trends in Rwanda (2002-2010)

The technology options for the production of quality meat include: the animal breed, the feed
resource base; animal health management, identification and traceability, quality and safety
improvement, accreditation process, processing technologies and distribution management
model. The dominant cattle genotype in Rwanda is the Ankole Longhorn cattle and their crosses
with dairy lines. The Ankole cattle has not been bred specifically for meat production in Africa,
although there is tacit indication that the potential exits. Nevertheless it is the most viable option
for investment at this stage of animal genetic improvement in Rwanda.

Inadequate animal genetic resource base for meat production notwithstanding, the biggest
challenge to livestock production (includingmeat) i feeds and feeding technology. Rwanda does
not have sufficient land to sustain animals under traditional pastoral systems. However, the
country produces high amounts of straws and agro-industrial by-products that can be turned into
2
cattle feed. The rational option is to adopt straw based feedlots which has been validated at
Nyagatare and used extensively elsewhere, especially in Asia. Conventional hays and silages are
alternative land use that could support meat feedlots.

3. Investment plan in meat value chain development

Objective of the investment is to establish a market oriented meat value chain in Rwanda.
Specific objectives are:
 To develop an institutional capacity building
 To establish livestock registration and traceability from farm to table(pilot project)
 To establish a sustainable livestock breeding program;
 To develop effective and affordable health and feed resource management practices for
livestock improvement in Rwanda. (feeds technology)
 To develop modern meat production systems and establish processing facilities for
quality and assurance of meat production and marketing.
 To establish and regulate partnership arrangement between different actors in the
complete meat value chain

Expected output

The conception framework of the meat value chain is shown in Figure 4.

3
 Figure 2: Conceptual framework of the expect output of the meat value chain

It consists of feedlots which will receive yearlings from farmers, mini-ranches; and cattle
markets. The feedlots will fatten the animals until the right weight for age. The feedlots will
supply the abattoir which will supply wholesalers, retail outlets; supermarkets; and hotels

Action plan for Rwanda KAPEX program 2015

OUTCOME ACTIVITIES Timeframe

Year 1 Year 2 Year 3
Increase Identification of pilot farms; pilot x
productivity, safety slaughter houses and butcheries for
and quality of meat modern livestock identification based
industry in Rwanda on Korean model;

Initiate computerised system for x X X

registration and traceability with
reference to Korean Model

4
Develop animal breeding for beef and x x X
pig scheme: Identification of farms ,
establishing breeding association and
registration of cattle , Multiple
ovulation and embryo transfer with
collaboration with KOREA experts,
Selection and evaluation
Developing feedlots, promote the x x X
utilisation of crop residues , agro
industry products; Hay and silage
making , forage and fodder
multiplication and pasture
Develop capacity in genotyping and x x X
serotyping of transboundary animal
diseases pathogens; Train and equip of
animal community health workers;
train and equip meat inspector
technicians

Establish and maintain a model pig x x X

slaughter house, processing and
packaging unit; establish and maintain a
model beef value chain ; Equip the
slaughtering , cutting, processing ,
equipments, distribution and
transportation; establish and equip a
modern butcheries
Develop meat grading system in x x X
Rwanda with KOREA expert
collaboration
Establish and develop the capacity of x X
HACCP team in collaboration with
KOREA KAPEX;

Establish cooperative and associations x x x

for livestock value chain
Training of livestock value chain x x
actors
Develop and review of livestock laws x x x
and regulations (Standard operation
procedures(SOPs)

5
Trainings on livestock registration, x x x
classification, performance test and
traceability with collaboration of
KOREAN experts
Short courses for Multiple Ovulation x x x
and Embryo Transfer technology in
Rwanda in collaboration with KOREA
experts
Develop capacity on meat grading x x x
system in Rwanda with KOREA
expert collaboration
Establish and develop the institution x x
and capacity of HACCP accreditation
team in collaboration with KOREA;
Develop capacity in genotyping and x x
serotyping of transboundary animal
diseases pathogens (FMD, LSD, PPR,
RVF, CBPP, brucellosis

Capacity on molecular work for x x

evaluating the meat quality

6
 © Strategy & Policy Unit, Confidential – Not to be reproduced or distributed Last updated 9/23/2015 5:59 PM
Meat Sector Development in

KAPEX Academy 2015

0
June 2015
Rwanda

26 nd
 Participants of KAPEX 2015
Organization Position Name OBSERVATION
Agro-Processing Trust CEO Mr.KAYIGAMBA Moses
Company Ltd
Rwanda Agriculture Board Researcher Dr.HIRWA Claire KAPEX Joint Research

© Strategy & Policy Unit, Confidential – Not to be reproduced or distributed

Team
Rwanda Agriculture Acting Director of Dr.NIYIGIRA Vincent KAPEX Joint Research
Board(Northern Zone) Livestock Development Team

Nyagatare District of Professional in Charge of Mr.NGIRINSHYUTI Fabien

Rwanda Animal Resources
Development

Rubavu District of Rwanda Acting Director of Mr.HARERIMANA Emmanuel Blaise

Agriculture and
Natural Resources

Agro-Processing Trust Processor NEMEYE Sylvere

Company Ltd

Ministry of Agriculture and Professional in Charge of Dr Euphasie NYIRAZIKWIYE

Last updated 9/23/2015 5:59 PM

Animal Resources /Inspection Animal Products Certification
and Certification

Rwanda Agriculture Board Director of Veterinary Dr Jean Claude RUKUNDO

(HQ) Inspection Unit

1
 Introduction

© Strategy & Policy Unit, Confidential – Not to be reproduced or distributed

The GoR has identified investment in two areas as the most
viable option for sustainable progress:
 1) intensification and development of sustainable production
systems
 2) professionalization of primary and secondary producers
along the commodity value chains through strategic public-
private sector partnerships.

Last updated 9/23/2015 5:59 PM

2
 Investment plan in meat value chain
development

Objective of the investment establish a market oriented meat value

chain in Rwanda.
Specific objectives are:

© Strategy & Policy Unit, Confidential – Not to be reproduced or distributed

 To establish livestock registration and traceability from farm to fork
 To establishing a sustainable beef cattle breeding program; and
capacity building in Rwanda
 To develop effective and affordable health and feed resource
management practices for beef cattle improvement in Rwanda.
 To development modern meat production systems and establish
processing facilities for quality and assurance meat production and

Last updated 9/23/2015 5:59 PM

marketing
 To establish and regulate partnership arrangement between different
actors in the meat value chain
3
 Problem Statement

A sustainable meat value chain premises on an innovation system

that provides:

© Strategy & Policy Unit, Confidential – Not to be reproduced or distributed

 Technology for production and processing;
 The market for the primary (slaughter cattle) and secondary
( hides and skins) products
 The entrepreneurship for profitable investments in the
technology and market development
 The governance and policies that moderate transactions

Last updated 9/23/2015 5:59 PM

between producers, processor and consumers

4
 © Strategy & Policy Unit, Confidential – Not to be reproduced or distributed Last updated 9/23/2015 5:59 PM
PHASE II
Model Beef Value Chain

PHASE 1
 © Strategy & Policy Unit, Confidential – Not to be reproduced or distributed Last updated 9/23/2015 5:59 PM
6
ACTION PLAN FOR RWANDA
 1. Institutional Capacity Building

OUTCOME ACTIVITIES Timeframe

Year 1 Year 2 Year 3
Increase productivity, Trainings on livestock registration, x x x
safety and quality of classification, performance test and

© Strategy & Policy Unit, Confidential – Not to be reproduced or distributed

meat industry in traceability with collaboration of KOREAN
Rwanda experts

Multiple Ovulation and Embryo Transfer x x x

technology in Rwanda in collaboration with
KOREA experts
Develop capacity on meat grading system in x x x
Rwanda with KOREA expert collaboration
Establish and develop the institution and x x x
capacity of HACCP accreditation team in
collaboration with KOREA;
Develop capacity in genotyping and x x x

Last updated 9/23/2015 5:59 PM

serotyping of transboundary animal diseases
pathogens (FMD, LSD, PPR, RVF, CBPP,
brucellosis
Capacity on molecular work for evaluating the x x
meat quality
7
 2. Livestock Registration and Traceability
(pilot project)

OUTCOME ACTIVITIES Timeframe

Year 1 Year 2 Year 3
Increase Identification of pilot farms; x

© Strategy & Policy Unit, Confidential – Not to be reproduced or distributed

productivity, pilot slaughter houses and
safety and butcheries for modern livestock
quality of meat identification based on Korean
industry in model;
Rwanda

Initiate computerised system for x X X

registration and traceability with
reference to Korean Model

Last updated 9/23/2015 5:59 PM

8
 3. Livestock Breeding Program
OUTCOME ACTIVITIES Timeframe
Year 1 Year 2 Year 3
Increase Develop animal breeding for beef x x X

© Strategy & Policy Unit, Confidential – Not to be reproduced or distributed

productivity, and pig scheme: Identification of
safety and quality farms , establishing breeding
of meat industry
association and registration of
in Rwanda
cattle , Multiple ovulation and
embryo transfer with collaboration
with KOREA experts, Selection
and evaluation
Developing feedlots, promote the x x X
utilisation of crop residues , agro

Last updated 9/23/2015 5:59 PM

industry products; Hay and silage
making , forage and fodder
multiplication and pasture

9
 4. Livestock Health and Feed Resource
Management Technologies
OUTCOME ACTIVITIES Timeframe
Year 1 Year 2 Year 3
Increase Developing feedlots, promote x x X

© Strategy & Policy Unit, Confidential – Not to be reproduced or distributed

productivity, the utilisation of crop residues
safety and , agro industry products; Hay
quality of meat and silage making , forage and
industry in fodder multiplication and
Rwanda pasture

Develop capacity in genotyping x x X

and serotyping of
transboundary animal diseases

Last updated 9/23/2015 5:59 PM

pathogens; Train and equip of
animal community health
workers; train and equip meat
inspector technicians 10
 5. Modern Meat Production Systems and Establish
Processing Facilities for Quality and Assurance of Meat
Production and Marketing

OUTCOME ACTIVITIES Timeframe

Year 1 Year 2 Year 3
Increase Establish and maintain a model x x X

© Strategy & Policy Unit, Confidential – Not to be reproduced or distributed

productivity, pig slaughter house, processing
safety and and packaging unit; establish
quality of meat and maintain a model beef
industry in value chain ; Equip the
Rwanda slaughtering , cutting,
processing , equipments,
distribution and transportation;
establish and equip a modern

Last updated 9/23/2015 5:59 PM

butcheries
Develop meat grading system x x X
in Rwanda with KOREA
expert collaboration 11
 6. Regulate Partnership Arrangement between
different Actors in the Complete Meat Value
Chain

OUTCOME ACTIVITIES Timeframe

Year 1 Year 2 Year 3

© Strategy & Policy Unit, Confidential – Not to be reproduced or distributed

Increase Establish cooperative and x x x
productivity, associations for livestock
safety and value chain
quality of Training of livestock x x
meat industry value chain actors
in Rwanda Develop and review of x x x
livestock laws and
regulations (Standard

Last updated 9/23/2015 5:59 PM

operation
procedures(SOPs)
12
© Strategy & Policy Unit, Confidential – Not to be reproduced or distributed Last updated 9/23/2015 5:59 PM
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