VILLAGE URUGWIRO - The government of India is in talks with Rwanda on how to develop and modernise the agricultural sector.

This was disclosed by the Indian Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Processing Industries, Arun Yadav, who yesterday met President Paul Kagame at Village Urugwiro.

In an interview with the media after meeting the President, Yadav said that the talks dwelt on future joint prospects, especially in agriculture which is viewed as a key sector for both countries.

He noted that the support would look into the development of food processing units in Rwanda.

This is intended to add value to agricultural products such as fruits for both domestic consumption and exports.

"We had a discussion about capacity building for the private sector which will be a big help for Rwanda,” Yadav said.

He noted that the development of irrigation is high on the agenda in the Indo-Rwanda cooperation.

"There is an expert from India who is the country. He is looking into how to develop facilities for farmers which can help to produce more while using less water for irrigation.”

According to the Minister of Agriculture Agnes Kalibata, the cooperation will focus more on adding value to the Rwandan agricultural produce.

"They have good methods of how they process their produce and improved seeds which give good yield, especially for wheat and rice,” she said.

Kalibata further said that also among the discussions was the possibility of establishing schools of excellence in agricultural studies.

She noted that the most of the cooperation pacts involving the above are already signed awaiting implementation.

Cooperation and relations between India and Rwanda range from educational, health, agricultural to infrastructural projects.
 
Among the successful projects between both countries are the existing educational projects where 600 students have attended trainings and postgraduate programmes in India in the last three years.

Others are agricultural projects where activities such as agricultural research and extension management, agro-processing and horticulture.

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