Posted on November, 2, 2018 at 10:36 am
Rwanda and Israel have reiterated their commitment to expand existing bilateral agricultural cooperation in line with the country’s agricultural transformation agenda. The commitment was reiterated on October 30, 2018 during a meeting held in Kigali by Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources, Dr Gerardine Mukeshimana, and Israeli Ambassador to Rwanda H.E. Mr. Raphael Morav.
The officials discussed the ongoing professional internship program that has been enabling Rwandan graduates to pursue agricultural courses in Israel and the Rwanda-Israel Horticulture Center of Excellence. They also discussed plans to provide training on animal feeds.
“I had a friendly and fruitful meeting with H.E. Gerardine Mukeshimana, Minister for Agriculture and Animal Resources, Republic of Rwanda. We discussed how to expand our bilateral agricultural cooperation,” the Israel ambassador to Rwanda wrote on twitter after the meeting.
Minister Mukeshimana also lauded the bilateral agricultural cooperation as both countries are looking at how to expand it.
The cooperation between the two countries has been over the last few years strengthened by important agricultural projects including professional internship programme that has been enabling Rwandan young graduates to pursue agricultural courses in Israel since 2012, among other initiatives. 625 Rwandans have so far complated the 11-month professional internship program at Kinneret College and Agrostudies Center – Israel.
Most of the Israeli trained students are engaged in building the farmers’ capacity.
In addition, a Center of Excellence for Horticultural Development in Rwanda established in Kigali, Mulindi site, is now playing an important role in streamlining Rwanda’s horticulture industry by showcasing modern technologies and providing training of trainers on best farming practices.
The Center is also meant to serve as a training site for local agriculture extension officers, University students, farmers and business people in modern horticulture production. The center will also serve as a regional center of excellence in high technology production. It will serve as a regional training center for small holder farmers focusing on major agricultural production challenges as well as on entrepreneurship capacity and better farm management skills.
Source: Republic of Rwanda - Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI)