Heifer International and the Rwanda Ministry of Agriculture have announced a partnership to invest more than US$10mn in livestock and training for 23,400 smallholder farming households
In Rwanda, one fifth of the population is food insecure, and the average income per household is approximately US$3.11 per day in the 15 districts in Rwanda's Northern, Southern, Western provinces where PRISM will be implemented.
Heifer International aims to support farmers to reach a living income, the amount of money needed to live a dignified life. PRISM will focus on prioritising three groups, women heads of households, malnourished children and young adolescent girls, in order to sustainably improve the livelihoods of the most vulnerable populations. Women will represent at least 50% and youth at least 30% of those engaged by PRISM and will have opportunities to access finance through the project.
Adesuwa Ifedi, senior vice-president of Africa programmes for Heifer International, said, “Heifer International has supported communities across Rwanda for more than 20 years to build sustainable food and farming businesses, and reduce hunger and poverty. Through our training model, farmers will develop the financial, farming and leadership skills they need to care for their animals and sharpen their business acumen. This will help them improve farm production and productivity, as well as develop stronger connections to formal markets, building sustainable agribusinesses and increasing profits.”
Dr. Gérardine Mukeshimana, minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources of Rwanda, said, “We look forward to working closely with Heifer Rwanda to deliver this program that will positively impact farmers and their families. Heifer International has a long history of working with farmers in Rwanda to build resilient rural communities and support farming families to live productive, prosperous lives.”
Heifer International's values based holistic community development model supports communities to build their capacity for development, working with farmers to increase their knowledge and resilience, while reducing vulnerability to climate change and economic shocks.
In addition to providing training to 23,400 farmers on sustainable community development and livestock production, PRISM will strengthen private sector service provision.
