Animal Sciences

Why does Rwanda need PhD in Animal and Environmental Sciences?

The role of livestock in farming system in Rwanda is multifaceted and synergistic and contributes to overall total farming system and immediate income and nutrition of the family. Livestock are traditionally used as a form of saving (a store of value). The Government of Rwanda has been promoting livestock ownership and quality upgrading through integrated farming system with zero grazing. The main constraints facing livestock include: poor general husbandry, nutrition, inadequate breeding, underdeveloped market, lack of appropriate technology, poor extension service, lack of grass root farmers organizations and poor or inadequate livestock research. In order to address key constraints in animal resources, the focus should be research and technology development, nutrition, feed and feeding. Capacity building is needed in research, and along the value chain and development of long term strategies in livestock development. The increase of productivity in livestock is one of the national strategic plans for agricultural transformation.

Currently, the number of animal scientists trained at M.Sc. is very low and extremely low for PhD holders. This low capacity does not guarantee good research.  The development of in-country Masters and PhD programs and research agenda in livestock and aquaculture feed and nutrition to address local issues is highly required. The plan is to conduct research through PhD students to develop technology needed to give solution to key constraints, and to develop technology dissemination pathway in livestock, fish farming and apiculture under smallholders system.

The Program goal

To train local animal scientists in familiar working environments so they gain skills and expertise required to transform national livestock practices into profit making activities.

Objectives:

1. To train animal scientists at the MSc and PhD level to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary for developing superior animal breeds using both conventional and molecular techniques;

1. To provide quality MSc and PhD training in animal nutrition and feeding to enhance production and distribution of high quality animal products in  Rwanda, East and Central Africa;
2. To provide the necessary skills to support local livestock programs to meet local needs and to respond to indigenous demands.

Context

Rwanda is one of the most densely populated country in Africa with a population estimated at 9.2 million and an average population density of 321 persons per km². At a growth rate of 2.3 % per annum, the population is expected to rise to 14 million by the year 2020. There is therefore, considerable demographic pressure on agricultural land with over 58% of households possessing less than 0.5 ha. The issue of land and farm size has great influence on livestock production in Rwanda. The major challenge facing the livestock sector is to satisfy the rise in general demand for livestock products due to increasing human population. To achieve this goal, livestock sector must rise at the technological level that the natural resource base can sustain without destroying the environment.  For instance, milk consumption in Rwanda is 13 l per person per year whereas FAO recommends 220 l of milk per person per year. Low livestock production arises from lack of knowledge on appropriate livestock feeding practices, housing, breeding, marketing strategies, etc.

Determination of factors that affect livestock production requires in depth knowledge in animal sciences in order to formulate appropriate strategies that could Rwandan livestock. Additionally, trained and qualified animal scientists are not available in the country. There is therefore an immergent need to train the national qualified scientific staff that will be able to conduct critical research whose findings will lead to informed strategies to transform Rwanda livestock sector into a lucrative activity.

To address the above challenges the Faculty of Agriculture at National University of Rwanda through the department of Animal Productions plans to launch a Masters program in Animal Sciences alongside the PhD program. In this program, training in the areas of specialization such as Animal breeding and biotechnology, Animal Physiology, Reproductive physiology, Non ruminant nutrition, Ruminant nutrition, Advanced biostatistics, Pasture production and Range management, Integrated Aquaculture, and Apiculture will need input from experts from different partners (SIDA, Makerere University, Sokoine University, Kenyan Universities, Colorado State University, SLU, ILRI etc.) in the form of cooperation as such expertise is lacking in Rwanda. Extra staff will be required to conduct this graduate training and supervise master’s research dissertations.  This masters program will make PhD program more effective as each PhD student will have 2 MSc students to work with him/her and at the same time it will be a mentoring process for focused and serious research. Graduates from this MSc program will be candidates for joining PhD program.

Stakeholders

Universities and Higher Education Institutions within Rwanda, RAB, and Private Institutions (Private Laboratories, NGOs, Private farms…)

Research activities

1. Animal Breeding. Germplasm collection characterization and evaluation, Genomics and marker assisted breeding, and Assisted reproductive techniques;
2. Animal Nutrition. Novel feeds resources development, Forage germplasm evaluation, Crop residue improvement and feeding system evaluation including range land research, Crop livestock integration, and Nutrition physiology and metabolomics;
3. Aquaculture. Fish species characterization and domestication and Fish feed and feeding management.