After completing a hands-on agricultural internship at Agrostudies, Rupin College, Israel (2023-2024) Parick Ndagijimana, the managing Director of Feed Plant Company, returned to Rwanda with a clear vision and strong determination to transform agriculture. He has also studied and graduated with a bachelor's degree in Crop Production from the University of Technology and Arts of Byumba (UTAB). Presently, he is pursuing the MSc in Agribusiness at the University of Rwanda.

Patrick explains his motivation:

 “I started pig farming to deal with livestock waste and convert it into fertilizers that help farmers sustain increased productivity without harming the soil or the environment. “

Today, Feed Plant Company Ltd runs a piggery with a value of nearly 10 million RWF and a factory worth about 30 million RWF. The company processes pig waste and plant materials and produces quality organic fertilizers. It rears modern pig breeds, such as Landrace, Large White, and Duroc, feeding them nutrient-rich feeds that have been formulated according to their growth stages.
Patrick explains some of the challenges he has faced:
"The irregular supply of pig feeds, changing prices on the market, and repeated diseases in our animals have brought challenges, but we have managed to overcome these thanks to our trained staff."
The organic fertilizers produced are NPK, calcium, and magnesium-enriched, which help in renewing the degraded soils to sustain crop yields. Patrick emphasizes:

“Quality and environmental sustainability remain top priority in everything we do.”

The residents of Gicumbi District, Byumba Sector, Kibali Cell, benefit from Feed Plant Company Ltd activities in several ways:

• Employment Opportunities: The company creates jobs for the locals.
•  Market Access for Farmers: Farmers of different livestock keepers and other crop farmers have been able to market their manure and other farm wastes at a well-priced local market.
•  Capacity Building: The company trains farmers on compost production and best practices
• Affordable Products: Organic fertilizer and pigs are sold to neighbors at lower prices compared to other suppliers.

This, therefore, gives insight into the vision for the company's future expansion across Rwanda, including the implementation of modern livestock technologies as it produces quality organic fertilizers to become a center of excellence in agriculture and livestock.

Patrick’s advice to the Rwandan youth: “Be patient, learn every day, collaborate with those who have more experience, and turn problems into solutions. That’s how you create impact. “

RYAF Communication Team