Dukunde Kawa Musasa Cooperative, located on the hills of Ruli Sector in Gakenke District and widely recognized for producing high-quality organic coffee, is today celebrating significant achievements in its subsidiary business activity, the dairy enterprise. The recorded success  has been made possible through the support of the Commercialization and De-Risking for Agricultural Transformation Project (CDAT), which strengthened the cooperative’s Milk Collection Center (MCC).

Prior to this support, the cooperative faced major operational challenges, including limited infrastructure and insufficient capacity to manage farmers’ milk deliveries. As a result, large quantities of milk were frequently rejected, leading to high post-harvest losses and significant wastage.

According to Mr. Ernest Nshimiyimana, Managing Director of the Musasa MCC, a major turning point came when Dukunde Kawa Musasa Cooperative received the financial support from CDAT. Through a matching grant of Rwf 200 million—of which the cooperative contributed 50 percent—CDAT enabled the modernization and expansion of the MCC’s operations.

With this investment, the cooperative renovated its milk collection and processing facilities, acquired a refrigerated truck for milk transportation, installed milk coolers with a combined capacity of 5,000 liters, and purchased two pasteurization machines, each capable of processing 500 liters. Additional equipment included packaging machinery, milk cans, and a cold storage facility to ensure improved milk quality, safety, and extended shelf life.

“These investments have delivered transformational results for the cooperative, its members, and the wider Gakenke community,” Mr. Nshimiyimana noted. “The upgrades have enabled us to handle larger volumes of milk without losses, significantly improving our revenues and profitability.” 

The dairy project has created employment opportunities for 20 youth and strengthened collaboration with local authorities and communities to address malnutrition. The MCC now provides a reliable supply of milk twice a day to children attending the Musasa Cooperative Early Childhood Development Center.

Currently, the cooperative produces 350 liters of fermented milk (Ikivuguto), 150 liters of yoghurt, and 100 kilograms of ghee per day, positioning Musasa Cooperative to expand its market beyond Gakenke District.

Mr. Nshimiyimana further highlighted that the dairy initiative has become a key pillar of income diversification and resilience for the cooperative.

“Before the CDAT-supported investment, our MCC’s annual turnover was approximately Rwf 24 million. Today, it has exceeded Rwf 96 million in 2025, with projections to reach Rwf 240 million within the next three years,” he said.

Through CDAT’s support, Dukunde Kawa Musasa Cooperative has transformed its dairy enterprise into a sustainable, profitable, and impactful operation—demonstrating how targeted investments can drive rural economic growth, strengthen food systems, and improve livelihoods.