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By Annonciata Byukusenge
When Esther Mukamurigo received 10 chickens from a government-backed support program in 2023 in Ruhango District, Rwanda, she viewed them as more than just livestock. They were a small but hopeful beginning.
Three years later, her poultry yard in Kabagari Sector is home to about 600 chickens, the result of patience, training, and careful saving.
Mukamurigo is one of the beneficiaries of the PRISM project, an initiative operating under Rwanda’s Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB) that supports vulnerable households with skills and starter resources. The program aims to help families build sustainable livelihoods and gradually lift themselves out of poverty.
“I received training in 2023 that taught me several things, especially how to raise small livestock. Mukamurigo said during an interview with The Forefront Magazine at her home in the Gitwa cell, Rwoga Village. That knowledge helped me grow the 10 chickens I was given into the 600 I now have.”
For Mukamurigo, the project’s training proved just as valuable as the initial livestock.
She says the lessons on poultry care, feeding, and disease prevention helped ensure the birds thrived and multiplied. As her flock grew, she also began sharing both chicks and knowledge with neighbors.
“When my chickens started multiplying, I passed some on to neighbors so they could start their poultry farms. I also shared what I had learned so they, too, could improve their lives.”
The poultry business gradually paved the way for other investments.
Mukamurigo began selling eggs after keeping some for her family’s consumption. She also sold older chickens and saved the proceeds through a local community savings group.
Step by step, the earnings allowed her to expand.
“With the money I saved, I bought two goats and later a cow. I also managed to build a new house because before, we lived in a very small one-room home that was in poor condition and could even collapse on us.”
Today, Mukamurigo is planning the next phase of her small farm: increasing her flock to 2,500 chickens.
Other beneficiaries of the PRISM initiative in the area have also organized themselves into six groups, pooling resources to venture into pig farming as another source of income.
Local authorities say the results reflect broader progress in the district.
Jean Marie Rusiribana, the vice mayor of Ruhango District in charge of economic development, says that initiatives like PRISM have helped communities make tangible gains.
“The PRISM project has supported residents in several ways, helping them escape poverty, reduce malnutrition, and improve access to infrastructure,” Rusiribana said.
He adds that malnutrition rates in Ruhango have fallen significantly, from 39% in 2020 to 22% in 2025, according to findings from the latest Demographic and Health Survey (DHS2025).
“It’s an important step forward. There is still work to do, but people who benefit from these programs are now passing the knowledge and opportunities on to others.”
Beyond household support, the PRISM initiative has also invested in community infrastructure in Ruhango, including a small livestock market, a pig slaughterhouse, and a veterinary clinic to improve animal health services.
However, for Mukamurigo, the most significant transformation occurs in his immediate surroundings.
What started with a handful of chickens has grown into a farm and a reminder that with the right support and skills, even modest beginnings can lead to lasting change.
PRISM is a project jointly implemented by the Government of Rwanda in partnership with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), through the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI), and implemented under the Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB).
