Esther Mukamurigo began her journey in 2023 with 10 chickens provided by the PRISM project in Ruhango District, Rwanda. Three years later, her farm in Kabagari Sector, Gitwa Cell, Rwoga Village, has grown to about 600 chickens, demonstrating how training, careful management, and savings can transform a household’s prospects. PRISM, implemented under Rwanda’s Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB) and supported by the Government of Rwanda in partnership with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) through the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI), equips vulnerable families with skills and starter resources to build sustainable livelihoods.
Mukamurigo said during an interview with The Forefront Magazine at her home: “I received training in 2023 that taught me several things, especially how to raise small livestock. That knowledge helped me grow the 10 chickens I was given into the 600 I now have.” She applied the project’s training on poultry care, feeding, and disease prevention to grow her flock, share both chicks and knowledge with neighbors, and generate income from eggs and mature chickens. Savings from sales enabled her to buy two goats, later a cow, and construct a new home.
Other beneficiaries of PRISM in the area have organized into six groups to venture into pig farming as another source of income
Jean Marie Rusiribana, vice mayor of Ruhango District in charge of economic development, said initiatives like PRISM help communities escape poverty, reduce malnutrition, and improve access to infrastructure. Malnutrition rates in Ruhango fell from 39% in 2020 to 22% in 2025, according to the latest Demographic and Health Survey (DHS2025).
Beyond household support, PRISM has invested in community infrastructure, including a small livestock market, a pig slaughterhouse, and a veterinary clinic to improve animal health services. For Mukamurigo, the most significant transformation is in her immediate surroundings. What started with a handful of chickens has grown into a farm and a demonstration that with the right support and skills, modest beginnings can lead to lasting change.
