The Government of Rwanda has announced plans to introduce a new milk pricing system that will allow dairy farmers, milk buyers and processors to negotiate farm-gate milk prices collectively. The government will act as a neutral facilitator to ensure transparent and fair discussions while promoting a more sustainable dairy value chain.
The announcement was made on July 31, 2026, by State Minister for Agriculture and Animal Resources Dr. Solange Uwituze during the launch of a livestock training manual aimed at improving dairy production and milk quality.
🥛 Farmers Seek Fairer Milk Prices
Dairy farmers highlighted that the current farm-gate milk price of Rwf400 per litre no longer covers rising production costs. Increasing expenses for:
- 🌾 Animal feed
- 💊 Veterinary medicines
- 💧 Water
- ⚡ Electricity
- ⛽ Fuel
- 👨🌾 Labour
have significantly reduced farm profitability.
Farmers including Rwamugema Henry and Butare Musoni Alex urged authorities to adopt a pricing mechanism that reflects the true cost of milk production while ensuring sustainable farmer incomes.
🤝 Negotiated Pricing Model
Responding to the concerns, Dr. Uwituze explained that Rwanda plans to adopt a pricing approach similar to those already introduced for maize and potatoes.
Under the new framework:
- 📊 Farmers, processors and milk buyers will negotiate milk prices together.
- 🏛️ The government will facilitate discussions and ensure fairness.
- 📅 Negotiations are expected to conclude before the end of August 2026.
- 💰 The newly agreed milk price will be implemented immediately after consensus is reached.
The Ministry of Trade and Industry also confirmed that stakeholder-based commodity pricing has been in place since 2025 and that negotiations are nearing completion.
🌿 Improving Dairy Sustainability
The meeting also addressed seasonal fluctuations in milk production.
Officials cited Nyagatare District, where daily milk output declines dramatically from approximately 120,000 litres during the rainy season to around 35,000 litres during the dry season.
To improve year-round production, dairy farmers were encouraged to:
- 🌾 Store sufficient animal feed before dry seasons.
- 🐄 Improve livestock nutrition and feeding practices.
- 📈 Maintain stable milk production throughout the year.
📌 Building a More Sustainable Dairy Industry
The proposed pricing reform represents an important step towards improving transparency within Rwanda’s dairy sector. By encouraging direct negotiations between producers and processors while strengthening farm management practices, the initiative aims to improve farmer profitability, enhance milk quality and create a more resilient dairy value chain.
