Paniel Meat Processing & Livestock Bank
Watch Herve Tuyishime tell his story on the Fledge Demo Day stage:
Slide-by-slide through the story:
“[In Kinyarwanda]: I am so happy to be here to tell you about my project. If only I could make this presentation in my own language, it would be much easier.”
“My country has one of the fastest growing economies in the world, growing at an average of 7 percent per year over the last 15 years. It is also one of the easiest places in the world to start a company. So easy that I’ve started two.”
“Hello, my name is Herve Tuyishime, and I am from Rwanda, in East Africa.”
“I am a college graduate, living in Kigali, Rwanda’s capital city. Many of my fellow Rwandans are farmers. Last year I became a farmer too. I started a business I call Livestock Bank.”
“We give free animals to farmers and to provide everything they need to raise livestock in quality and quantity. Today we have 300 pigs in 300-farms owned by 300 different farmers.”
“This distribution model works well in a country like Rwanda. Most farmers cannot afford to raise animals. Feed and medicine are expensive and market prices are not fair. Livestock Bank provides farmers with everything they need and connects them to the fair market.”
“Livestock Bank also provides a sustainable and steady source of high quality meat to my other business, Paniel Meat Processing (or PMP). I started this business 4 years ago when I noticed Rwanda’s economy growing quickly and anticipated that the consumption of meat would rise.”
“PMP produces products such as sausages, burgers, and meatballs. Today we are selling these in five cities: Kigali, Rubavu, Huye, Musanze, and Rusizi. All of these are urban centers. Our goal is to expand into rural areas, and produce meat products affordable to the millions of people earning less than $1 per day.”
“In Rwanda meat is around $4 a kilo. We have developed a product that is a packaged meal of precooked meat and vegetables. We call it AKABOGA. It’s only 40 cents, it does not need refrigeration, so its perfect for life in rural areas and slums.”
“With Livestock Bank PMP can meet it’s goal of producing meat products for millions of people. So as you can see, these businesses feed each other. It also generates income for farmers. With its expansion, rural families will be able to afford AKABOGA. My businesses benefit farmers, consumers, and the Rwandan economy. Everybody wins.”
“Both of my businesses are profitable, and both are growing quickly. But there are millions of Rwandans we still have not reached. Please, invest in me. Help me achieve my goal. Thank you!”
