Cows have long been a vital resource in Rwanda, both socially and economically, and dairy historically accounts for a significant share of consumed protein and other nutrients. However, cows and most of Rwanda’s production capacity were decimated during the war and genocide of 1994 and per capita consumption of milk here plunged to the lowest level in all Africa. As Rwanda’s dairy industry recovers, it lacks production technologies, market efficiencies, and government regulation to make milk healthy and affordable for all Rwandans.
Today, nutrition and food security pose one of the greatest challenges in Rwanda’s efforts to eradicate poverty and improve the welfare of its people. Chronic malnutrition, particularly among children, is widespread. There is a desperate need for affordable, nutritious food products available year-round distributed nationwide. By increasing availability of high quality dairy products in Rwanda, RV intends to accomplish through the private sector what decades of aid dollars has failed to achieve: eradication of chronic malnutrition and the creation of lasting prosperity.
In January 2010, RV partnered with the CODERU dairy cooperative to launch Kivu Dairy, a unique social venture in the Rubavu District of western Rwanda. With the generous support of the Segal Family Foundation, Kivu Dairy operates a private milk collection center. In partnership with local dairy farmer cooperatives, Kivu Dairy offers technical support, testing, products, and services to increase the quality and production of regional milk. Kivu Dairy is one of the largest suppliers of high-quality milk to Inyange, Rwanda’s largest dairy processor, and an is also an established supplier to smaller milk markets in Kigali, Rwanda’s capital.
Rwanda Ventures is exploring opportunities with other cooperatives and is looking to acquire or build additional collection centers to improve the quantity and quality of milk production.