Farmers in drought hit Eastern province have expressed concern over the likely scarcity of cattle feeds which has led to a decrease in milk production where they used to produce 96000 liters to the formal market but now produce 260000 liters.
According to statistics from Rwanda Agricultural Board, milk production has reduced by 20 per cent in the eastern province since last year in November and farmers in the eastern part of Rwanda have expressed that the main cause to this decrement is the long dry spell which is likely to cause death of their livestock if the season goes on for a long time.
Damascene Gafuruka who owns a dairy in Nyagatare says that his cattle produces less litres of milk now compared to the last couple of months which has started to affect his milk business in such a way that he earns less money.
“I used to sell 200 litres of milk but now it has reduced to 150 litres simply because nowadays it’s hard to find pasture for my cattle given this present dry lifestyle,” says Damascene.
Recently, the mayor of Nyagatare district Mr. Stephen Gasana during an umuganda session with Nyagatare farmers advised them that they should look out for this dry season because it could cause more damage than production.
