Beef prices in Rwanda have risen sharply following an outbreak of Rift Valley Fever that disrupted livestock supplies, pushing the cost of a kilogramme to between Rwf8,000 and Rwf9,000 depending on the market. Before the outbreak, wholesale beef sold for roughly Rwf6,000 to Rwf6,500 per kilogramme. Prices briefly surged above Rwf10,000 before moderating as demand weakened.
With beef still out of reach for many households, nutritionists are pointing consumers toward affordable animal and plant-based alternatives that provide essential protein and nutrients.
Private Kamanzi, chairman of the Rwanda Nutritionists Society, said meat remains an important source of easily absorbed protein and iron. However, he emphasized that nutritional needs can be met without it. Chicken and fish are viable substitutes, he said, along with soy-based products such as tofu and soy milk, which offer comparable nutrient profiles.
Hyguette Irambona, a nutritionist at Gardens for Health International, a Kigali-based nonprofit addressing malnutrition, noted that daily meat consumption is not the norm for most Rwandans. For many, meat is associated with social occasions rather than routine protein intake. She highlighted that chicken and pork are currently cheaper than beef, making them more accessible options. Fish, she added, supplies both protein and omega-3 fatty acids, which support brain function.
For households relying on plant-based diets, Irambona recommended beans, lentils, green peas, groundnuts, and pumpkin seeds as protein sources. She cautioned that protein content varies across foods, meaning larger portions of some plant-based items may be needed to match the protein supplied by meat.
“It’s quite interesting that we consume meat less frequently, but when we do, we tend to eat larger quantities,” Irambona said.
The outbreak has underscored the vulnerability of food systems to animal disease and the importance of dietary diversity in maintaining nutrition security during supply disruptions.
