Rwanda plans to join the Commonwealth Agricultural Bureau International (CABI), a not-for-profit science-based development and information body that will most likely boost the country’s agricultural sector.

The revelation was made to parliament on Wednesday by the vice chairperson of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Jacqueline Mukakanyamugenge, who tabled a bill authorizing the ratification of the agreement to join CABI.

"Although the country has not ratified the agreement to join CABI, it currently benefits a lot from the body,” said Mukakanyamugenge.

Rwanda’s joining of CABI comes at a time when the country is also bidding to join the main body, the Commonwealth.
According to Mukakanyamugenge, upon admission, Rwanda will be contributing £30,000 (Approx. Rwf 30m) annually.

She added that in the recent past, some Rwandan agriculturalists had undergone trainings in different categories from the CABI Bioscience centre.

Established in 1913 and based in London, CABI was set up to support agricultural scientists, in what were then British colonies, by identifying insects and providing scientific information and technical assistance.

Subsequently, other countries that were not members of the Commonwealth joined the body.

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