Authors : Mupenzi Mutimura, Leonidas Dusengemungu, Musana Bernard, Daphrose Gahakwa and Cyprian Ebong
Abstract: Consumption of animal products except beef has been increasing consistently in Rwanda. The potential to ignite beef sector development and improve food security and support poverty reduction exist in the Ankole cattle that the poor commonly own. The Eastern province that is the major cattle producing zone is prone area to drought and uncertainties of weather due to climate change. The current status of beef value chain performance, the key actors involved, the physical, institutional, economic and social assets available to the actors, the perceptions, incidences and impact of incidences of climate change are not know. A baseline survey was conducted in two candidate sites selected, the Kirehe and Nyagatare Districts on the basis of perceived risks to climate change using a structured questionnaire in 256 households. Preliminary results indicate the key actors in the beef value chain were similar in household structure, level of education, resource endowment, livelihood strategies and duration of settlement in the area. They kept indigenous cattle predominantly for sale for meat, milk for home consumption and manure for soil fertility management. Grasslands and rivers were the major sources of feeds and water, respectively. Grazing was not adequate for most farmers but they did not use supplement because the materials were not available and costly. They also lacked knowledge on supplementary feeding. Most of the farmers sold animal at or below 1 year of age. But the number of fatteners, butchers were lower than number of producers, suggesting that the animals were sold to distant market. It was concluded that preliminary data analysis justifies beef enterprise development in these sites and a detailed data analysis and market chain analysis is also required.
Mupenzi Mutimura, Leonidas Dusengemungu, Musana Bernard, Daphrose Gahakwa and Cyprian Ebong, 2014. Household Characteristics and Livelihood Strategies for Beef Enterprise Development in Eastern Province of Rwanda. Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 13: 637-644.