The regional agro-research centre Institut de Recherches Agronomiques et Zootechnique (IRAZ), a subsidiary of the Economic Commission of the Great Lakes (CEPEGL) is due to reopen this year after ten years of inactivity.

The revival of the centre was part of the resolutions by a recent meeting between ministers in charge of agriculture in Burundi, Rwanda and the DR Congo, the three Partner States to the CEPGL.

According to Christophe Bazivamo, Rwanda’s Minister of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Forestry, the meeting which was held in the Burundian Province of Gitega was aimed at streamlining the centre, especially its management.

Bazivamo said that IRAZ which was established in September 1976 and whose headquarters are in Burundi, had to reopen like other projects previously run by CEPGL which had also suspended its activities until recently. 

In an interview yesterday, Bazivamo said that the budget was also discussed during the meeting where each of the three countries was compelled to pay 350,000 Euro to run it.

The management of the centre is also going to be shared with each country nominating its representative on the top leadership.

"Rwanda will provide the director of finance and administration, as DR Congo will avail the Director General while Burundi will be represented by the director of Scientific Research,” Bazivamo revealed.

IRAZ was established in September 1976 and comprises institutions shared by Congo, Rwanda and Burundi.

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