Rwanda is laying the foundation for a more productive, resilient, and competitive livestock sector.

Rwanda is taking a significant step in modernising its livestock sector with the arrival of the first batch of 10 high-genetic-potential Holstein-Friesian dairy bulls imported from Germany.

This initiative is designed to strengthen breeding programmes and accelerate improvements in both dairy and beef herds. A second shipment of 20 bulls is expected by April 2026, featuring additional dairy breeds including Holstein-Friesian, Jersey, and Brown Swiss, alongside top beef breeds such as Angus and Charolais.

These elite bulls will be central to Rwanda’s national bovine artificial insemination (AI) programme, producing high-quality semen distributed nationwide to enhance cattle genetics. By providing farmers with superior semen rather than requiring the purchase of costly breeding animals, the initiative aims to increase productivity, improve herd health, and raise milk yields significantly above those of many local breeds.

The project forms part of Phase II of the Rwanda Dairy Development Project (RDDP-2), a US $100 million programme funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and running from 2024 to 2029. RDDP-2 aims to modernise Rwanda’s dairy value chain, raise milk quality standards, and boost overall sector productivity.

Rwanda’s efforts to improve livestock genetics trace back to the “One Cow per Poor Family” (Girinka) programme launched in 2006, which introduced improved dairy breeds to rural households. Since then, structured crossbreeding, artificial insemination, and veterinary support initiatives have led to notable gains in national milk and meat production, though authorities emphasise that expansion remains crucial to meet targets outlined in the country’s Strategic Plan for Agricultural Transformation.

By integrating high-genetic bulls and modern AI techniques, Rwanda is laying the foundation for a more productive, resilient, and competitive livestock sector, supporting farmers while contributing to the country’s broader agricultural development goals.

Fishmeal plant strengthens west coast fisheries.

The South African government has welcomed a major R170 million investment by the African Pioneer Group into a new fishmeal plant at Sandy Point Harbour in St Helena Bay, Western Cape.

The facility is set to boost local and export supply chains by producing a range of fish products and strengthening the small pelagic sector’s value chain.

Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Willie Aucamp,said, “This facility is so much more than an expansion of processing capacity. It is a strategic intervention in the small pelagic value chain that strengthens domestic beneficiation, enhances operational efficiency, and positions South Africa to extract greater economic value from each tonne of fish harvested,” he said. He added that the project “strengthens local opportunities without increasing pressure on the resource base” and represents investment in communities and the future of South Africa’s fishing industry.

Aucamp emphasised and added, “The more than R170 million investment represented by this facility contributes directly to sustainable industrial growth in a priority coastal node,” he said, highlighting the partnership between government, science and the fishing industry as central to sustainable marine resource management.

The small pelagic sector plays a crucial role in coastal employment, food security, animal feed supply chains, and export earnings, especially along the West Coast. However, it is also highly vulnerable to environmental variability and climate-driven shifts. The Minister pointed to recent scientific assessments showing major fluctuations in biomass and recruitment, particularly the record-low anchovy recruitment in 2025 and persistently low sardine populations.

In response, the sector has been urged to diversify fishing efforts towards more abundant species such as round herring, which has shown strong biomass performance. “This species now plays a critical buffering role in maintaining throughput in the pelagic sector during periods when sardine and anchovy are constrained,” the Minister said. He explained that investments like the Sandy Point fishmeal plant support resilience by enabling efficient processing of a wider species mix, reducing waste, improving turnaround times, and stabilising supply to downstream industries.

Overall, the plant is seen as a strategic move towards sustainable industrialisation and strengthened marine beneficiation, aligning with the Oceans Economy Master Plan and the government’s industrial policy framework.

, South Africa’s FMD outbreak underscores the urgent need for stronger government action, rapid vaccination, and strategic support for the agricultural sector to safeguard food security.

Farmers across South Africa are warning that foot and mouth disease (FMD) is spiralling out of control, with the outbreak now affecting seven provinces and leaving the agricultural sector in crisis.

The disease has spread to KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, Free State, Mpumalanga, North West, Limpopo, and the Western Cape, causing severe disruptions to livestock farming, export markets, and food prices.

The outbreak, which began in early 2025 after infected cattle from KwaZulu-Natal were sold at auction, has forced the government into the spotlight. Farmers report that delays in response and vaccine shortages have allowed FMD to spread rapidly, while regulations prevent them from vaccinating their herds independently. Even when livestock show signs of illness or die, farmers must wait for official intervention.

Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen initially downplayed the scale of the crisis but later admitted the situation was serious, stating, “This is a battle we are not winning.” He has promised a national vaccination programme starting February 2026. However, experts and farmers say this initiative comes too late. So far, just over 931,000 cattle have been vaccinated, a fraction of the national herd, with estimated costs to vaccinate all cattle exceeding R5.4 billion.

Testing facilities are also under pressure, leading to long delays for lab results and enabling further spread of the disease. Freedom Front Plus MP Dr Wynand Boshoff criticised weak leadership, noting that “testing delays mean animals recover while others become infected.”

The Southern Africa Agri Initiative has called for the outbreak to be declared a national disaster. Chief executive Francois Rossouw highlighted that such a declaration would enable faster funding, more staff, stricter movement controls, and improved communication. “It would allow vaccines, roadblocks, disinfectants and lab support to be rolled out quickly,” he said, emphasising that family farmers are bearing the brunt of the crisis and are largely left to cope on their own.

With rising meat and dairy prices, export bans, and the livelihoods of countless farmers at risk, South Africa’s FMD outbreak underscores the urgent need for stronger government action, rapid vaccination, and strategic support for the agricultural sector to safeguard food security.

Tanzania is enhancing Lake Victoria’s ecosystem. (Image credit: Presswire)

Tanzania has taken decisive steps to limit industrial participation in fishing on Lake Victoria, signalling growing regional urgency over the sustainability of Africa’s largest freshwater lake and the millions of livelihoods tied to its survival.

The move reflects mounting concern that large-scale commercial operations are accelerating environmental degradation while marginalising small-scale fishing communities.

The Minister for Livestock and Fisheries, Bashiru Ally Kakurwa, announced that industries will no longer be permitted to engage directly in fishing activities on the lake. He warned that unchecked commercial practices are rapidly depleting fish stocks and threatening the long-term viability of artisanal fisheries.

Speaking during a working visit to the Kagera Region, where he inspected a Nile perch processing facility in Muleba District, Kakurwa emphasised the need for immediate and coordinated intervention to protect Lake Victoria’s fragile ecosystem.

“Encroachment on the 200-metre buffer zone by industries and farmers, together with the use of illegal fishing nets that capture juvenile fish, continues to degrade Lake Victoria’s resources,” he said.

Lake Victoria is the world’s second-largest freshwater lake and a cornerstone of East Africa’s blue economy. It supports the livelihoods of more than 47 million people across Burundi, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and Uganda, providing food security, employment, transport routes, water supply and energy. The lake also plays a critical role in climate regulation and biodiversity conservation across the region.

The fishery is among the most productive freshwater systems globally, generating more than 1.5 million tonnes of fish annually with an estimated market value of $1.1 billion, according to regional figures. Beyond fisheries, Lake Victoria supplies water for domestic use, irrigation and industrial production, making it central to economic growth in East Africa.

Yet environmental experts caution that the lake is under escalating pressure. Wetland loss, deforestation in the catchment area, pollution from untreated urban and industrial wastewater, agricultural runoff and overfishing have steadily weakened the lake’s ecological resilience. Rapid population growth, urban expansion and rising economic activity are further intensifying demand for water and fish resources.

Kakurwa said Tanzania would tighten enforcement of existing fisheries regulations, including safeguarding shoreline buffer zones and cracking down on destructive fishing gear. He added that collaboration with neighbouring countries would be strengthened to ensure the lake is managed as a shared regional asset.

In 2025, East African Community (EAC) member states reaffirmed their commitment to the Protocol for Sustainable Development, pledging stronger cooperation on climate action and increased investment in conservation efforts across the Lake Victoria basin.

Officials say enhanced regional coordination will be essential to balancing economic development with environmental protection, ensuring Lake Victoria remains productive and resilient for future generations.