Rwanda - Rulindo, Nyanza, Nyaruguru, Rwamagana, Kayonza and Ngoma Districts
Project aims
This project aimed to enable 12,000 Rwandan smallholder farmers to establish sustainable livelihoods by improving their nutritional status and increasing their income through enhanced dairy production. The project worked to create a sustainable cycle of improved animal management, milk production, and income generation while ensuring food security and dietary diversity for vulnerable farming families across six districts.
13,431 community members trained in improved animal management practices including heat detection, cow breeding, calf rearing, and hydroponic fodder production.
12 water sources rehabilitated and water supply systems extended, benefiting 89,590 people with access to clean water for both human consumption and livestock.
7 Milk collection cooperatives across 6 districts equipped with solar powered milk coolers, milk cans, testing kits, and work gear to support quality milk collection and sales.
480 volunteer peer farmer trainers and community animal health workers trained to cascade knowledge to project participants, with 101 extension workers receiving specialised training in pregnancy diagnostics.
Smallholder farmers in rural Rwanda face severe challenges related to food insecurity, poor nutrition, and limited income opportunities. Traditional farming practices result in low dairy productivity, with average milk yields insufficient to meet household consumption needs or generate meaningful income. Poor animal management practices lead to long calving intervals (over 450 days), reducing the productivity of dairy herds.
At baseline, only 40% of Self Help Group members and 51% of Community Group members are food secure or mildly food insecure, with many families experiencing extended hunger periods averaging 2–3 months per year. Dietary diversity is limited, with only a small percentage of families consuming at least four different food types regularly. Average daily income falls well below the international poverty line of $1.90 for the majority of households.
Access to clean water is limited, affecting both human health and livestock welfare. Waterborne diseases increase veterinary costs and reduce working hours for families, further constraining household income. The lack of proper milk collection infrastructure means that farmers have limited markets for their milk, and quality issues result in high rejection rates at collection points.
Over three years, the project sets out to break this cycle of low productivity and poverty by improving dairy farming practices, establishing milk collection infrastructure, enhancing household nutrition through sustainable agriculture, and building the capacity of community volunteers to provide ongoing support beyond the project's end.
The project drove behaviour change through regular, personalised support from peer trainers and animal health workers, helping farmers adopt improved practices and see clear benefits.
An evaluation of 637 households showed major gains in wellbeing, with food security rising to 94.3% and remaining stable even during dry seasons due to improved practices and ongoing support.
Conclusion
The Inka Nziza Zikamwa project demonstrates that sustainable dairy development requires simultaneously improving animal management, establishing market infrastructure, and building community capacity. External evaluation found that the integrated approach brought significant health, economic, and nutritional benefits to participating households.
Many of the project's targets were exceeded, with food security reaching 94.3% (target 75-50%), average daily income achieving 91.8% above the poverty line (target 60-55%), and 56% of farmers selling 2,000+ litres per cow annually (target 50%). The average calving interval of 405 days surpassed the 450-day target, indicating improved reproductive efficiency and dairy productivity.
The establishment of 480 trained volunteer peer farmer trainers and community animal health workers, supported by 101 extension workers, ensures continued adoption of improved practices beyond the project's end. With milk collection infrastructure in place, active savings groups supporting financial stability, and communities demonstrating sustained commitment to improved animal management, the foundation has been laid for long-term livelihood transformation in Rwanda's smallholder dairy sector.
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