29/12/2016The 1^st LEAP Partnership Outreach Workshop was held in Kigali-Rwanda on 15 November 2016. The workshop gathered more than 50 participants including LEAP international experts and Rwanda officials from the Rwanda Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI) and Rwanda Agriculture Board (RAB). The event was opened by the Assistant FAO Representative in Rwanda, Dr. Otto Vianney MUHINDA. Presentations focused on the status and trends of livestock sector in Rwanda. Dr. Theogen Rutagwenda, Director of Animal Resources at MINAGRI, emphasized the opportunities and challenges of sustainable of livestock production, while Dr. Christine Kanyandekwe, Head of Animal Production at RAB, discussed about the environmental challenges and productivity of livestock in the country. The event was concluded with an overview about LEAP Partnership activities presented by Camillo De Camillis who emphasized the ongoing technical advisory groups for Nutrient Cycle Accounting and Impact Assessment and Water Footprints, and Eduardo Diaz who gave a snapshot of the activities of Global Agenda for Sustainable Livestock.

Rwanda’s milk production has increased by more than 120% in the last two decades as a result of local effort in improving dairy farming systems through different governmental programs; however, the livestock sector faces major environmental challenges, particularly due to its dependence on rainfed agriculture and vulnerability to climate change. To overcome these challenges, Rwanda’s livestock sector has sought alternatives to build resilience to climate change and improve its overall sustainability. The event combined field visits to two dairy farms, Kagugu Dairy farms and a small-holder farmer beneficiary of “One cow per poor family” program.