From the farm to the plate.
RUGARI MEAT PROCESSING LTD
T
he company breeds, fattens and slaughters animals in Gako to produce the best quality meat (beef and goat) in the country. Rugari beef is from renowned breeds such as Boran, Sahiwal and FleickVeich. Rugari has an elaborate production process to guarantee quality: It starts with selection of healthy animals (some of them from local farmers); they are appropriately fed under the feedlot system for about three months to attain the right weight before they are slaughtered at a modern abattoir built in the farm. This ensures quality beef as animals for slaughter arrive at the abattoir without stress. Transportation of animals under stressful conditions is not only a violation of animal rights, but also affects the beef quality. After slaughtering, meat is chilled for 24 hours to kill any microorganisms. It is then transported to outlets in Kigali, Rubavu and Rusizi under refrigeration to avoid contamination. About
80
2,300kgs of meat are sold per day. Rugari also produces goat meat in Gako, and pork from a modern piggery, complete with its own abattoir in Nyarugunga. Pork is from well-looked after Boar breed from Belgium.
Socioeconomic Impact Rugari supplies meat to various hotels and restaurants in the country, some of which previously imported it from Kenya and South Africa. The company is in the process of acquiring Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) certification to facilitate formal exports and supplies to 5-star hotels. The company also buys some of the animals for fattening from local farmers and is therefore a ready
market and source of income for livestock farmers. Local farmers are adapting the feedlot system of fattening animals for slaughter. This system ensures optimum utilization of land by feeding a big number of animals in a small area. Here, Six-month-old bulls are fed for about three months and are able to double their weight to attain appropriate slaughter weight. This is increasing incomes for farmers and improving their wellbeing. With a workforce of over 60 salaried employees and several casual labourers such as herdsmen, Rugari is contributing to job creation. Construction of a meat processing plant is near completion in Kigali. The new plant for meat products will create several hundreds of new jobs.