Inyange Industries Ltd, a leading food processing company in Rwanda, launched its new Milk Powder Plant in Nyagatare District, Eastern Province. This move aims to enhance its capacity to meet local demand and expand its market beyond Rwanda.
The facility has a capacity to process 650,000 liters of milk into 50,000 kilograms of milk powder daily and supply 150,000 liters of UHT-treated milk daily, positioning Rwanda as a regional dairy market leader.
With a combined investment of approximately $100 million, Inyange Industries now stands as the largest industry in Rwanda by production capacity. At the inauguration, Prime Minister Edouard Ngirente encouraged farmers to embrace zero grazing by dedicating a significant portion of pastureland for fodder growing. He pledged continued government support to dairy farmers through capacity building, fodder provision, water supply, feeder roads, and disease control to boost milk production. Ngirente also urged farmers to embrace the government-subsidized livestock insurance.
The new facility will focus on producing skimmed milk powder, whole milk powder, ghee, butter, and UHT products. The milk powder will primarily serve industrial applications, particularly in the food industry, such as infant product formulations, pastry production, and brands offering instant milk powder products.
“One of the plant’s potential suppliers said, ‘Since receiving her first cow in 2001 under the One Cow Per Family program, Francoise Mukase now has 18 cows, each producing 40 liters of milk per day. The plant comes in handy.”
Utilizing cutting-edge processing and safety technology, the plant represents the latest in the industry. Substantial growth in milk production at the farm level, accompanied by surging market demand, motivated Inyange’s shareholders to invest in the Milk Powder Plant in Nyagatare District. The plant, which became operational in April 2024, has created direct job opportunities for 270 permanent staff and indirectly supports hundreds more within the growing value chain. So far, it has received 4.2 million liters of raw milk from Rwandan farmers, who were paid Rwf1.3 billion.
In partnership with Inyange, NCBA Bank, a leading regional corporate bank, provided critical long-term financing of $27 million that brought this project to completion. As part of its commitment to economic development in Rwanda’s Eastern Province, the lender will soon also unveil a branch at the plant in Nyagatare District. This expansion marks a significant step in their strategy to strengthen its presence across Rwanda and East Africa.
“This partnership underscores our dedication to providing accessible and convenient financial services, especially to the farmers who play a vital role in the dairy industry,” NCBA Rwanda’s Chief Executive Officer Nicholas Musyoka, noted.
Inyange Industries Ltd, which commenced its journey in 1997 with a factory dedicated to processing and selling pasteurized milk and yogurt, has now expanded its product range to include milk and dairy products, fruit juices, and natural mineral water, marketed under the brands Inyange, Mukamira, Savannah, and Giheke.
“We currently have five milk processing factories with the capacity to process 850,000 liters per day, including the inaugurated milk powder plant,” Inyange Industries Managing Director, James Biseruka, noted. He added that there is current demand for export markets such as Egypt and Saudi Arabia for powdered milk and demand for ghee from Oman, Saudi Arabia, and Kenya.
Over the years, Inyange has structured the sector by enhancing milk collection from 3,000 liters per day in 2009 to 200,000 liters per day by 2020. The company’s partnerships with farmer cooperatives have improved livelihoods and ensured fair pricing for farmers. The primary target customers are industrial users, such as infant product manufacturers, pastry businesses, and brands offering instant milk powder products. These products cater to both local and international markets, ensuring a broad customer base.
