Gicumbi: Pig farmers trained on proper feeding techniques to improve pork quality
Pig farmers from various districts have participated in training aimed at promoting modern and professional pig farming. The goal is to adopt better practices that differ from traditional methods, which often result in pigs becoming overly fat with too much fat content, and in some cases producing low-quality meat due to poor feeding practices.
The training, launched on 21 November 2025 in partnership with VAF (Vision Agribusiness Farm), sought to build the capacity of pig farmers so they can improve their livelihoods.
In several districts, many farmers still use traditional methods and lack knowledge of the essential nutrients pigs need, or the correct quantities of feed required depending on their age. This often leads to poor growth or even stunting among the animals.
During the training, which targeted farmers who want to pursue pig farming as a serious business, participants were informed about the consequences of not knowing the right feeding quantities, how to manage financial resources generated from pig farming, the key nutrients required by pigs, and how to differentiate their feed according to needs,such as energy-giving feed, body-building feed, and disease-preventing feed—just like other living organisms.
Claude Shirimpumu, the representative of VAF, said the training aims to increase productivity among professional pig farmers so that they can meet market demands and improve their economic well-being. He added that participants are also expected to share the knowledge with other farmers who were unable to attend.
He said, “The aim is to further develop pig farmers, share knowledge, and deepen understanding of how to improve breeding for those who want to increase their herd, and for those raising pigs for meat, how to feed them properly so they produce high-quality pork that appeals to consumers.”
Pigs require a lot of water, but farmers must also know the correct amount to provide. A pig intended for a modern abattoir must weigh at least 100 kilograms because of the digital equipment used during cleaning, skinning, and processing. This was explained during the training organized by Vision Agribusiness, which specializes in modern pig farming in Gicumbi District.
