Rwanda | Nyaruguru: Girinka program transforming rural lives

Residents of Nyaruguru district who benefited from the One Cow per Household Program (‘Girinka’ program) have said that their lives have improved in comparison.

The beneficiaries confess living standards are much better compared to the past when they used to face challenges of poor feeding.

The manure from the cows has also improved the productivity of their farmlands as a result of using animal manure to fertilize their gardens. 

‘Girinka’ program was initiated as a boost in welfare of rural families and was aimed at improving on the country’s development and economy.

One old lady, Kankindi Kansilida, says that she got hopes of living after receiving the cow in 2007 from the ‘Girinka’ program.

She suffers from ulcers and has been using the milk to treat her disease and sell off the biggest portion of the milk.

Yonasi Nshokeyingoma also says that the animal manure has incrased her harvest from 20 kilograms to over 100 kilograms of as a result of using the manure from the cow.

Yonasi narrates that she now gets a banana bunch of almost 50 kilograms while she previously used to get 15 kilograms from her banana plantation as a result of using cow dung to fertilize her garden

“My children used to look as if they are malnourished but now look much better because of drinking cow milk” she says .

The Mayor of Nyaruguru district, Francois Habitegeko said the program of Girinka will continue whereby even those who have not yet benefited from it will be given cows as a way of eliminating poverty in Rwanda.

Girinka program is based on the Rwandan culture. The program was introduced by President Paul Kagame and since then, people who have already benefited the program- which has in turn greatly changed their lives in areas that were affected by poor feeding and it have also  improved soil fertility.

Nyaruguru district has received 5000 cows ever since Girinka program started in 2006.  According to the veterinary officer of Nyaruguru district, 29,530 families out of 59,598 families in the district 49.5% have each a cow, while the district has 41,000 cows.