Rwanda, Israel to bolster agriculture cooperation

Rwanda and Israel are set to enter into a joint partnership to strengthen cooperation in agriculture and rural development, according to officials from both countries.Orit Noked, Israel’s Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, confirmed the initiative yesterday after meeting President Paul Kagame at Village Urugwiro.Speaking to journalists shortly after meeting the Head of State, Noked said: “I came here to strengthen the relationship between Rwanda and Israel, but most specifically in agriculture and rural development.”She said they are planning to construct an Agriculture Centre of Excellency in Rwanda that will be used as an avenue for private Israel companies to demonstrate their technologies. There will also be opportunities for various training programmes to be conducted by Israel at the centre. According to Ernest Ruzindaza, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, the two countries will share experience in increasing production technologies, processing and trade in agricultural produce.“We are going to sign a memorandum of understanding in agriculture and animal resources next month with the government of Israel to boost our cooperation in the sector,” he said.Ruzindaza added that, the two countries will reinforce cooperation in irrigation and post harvest technologies, horticulture development, diagnostic technologies in animal diseases, animal feeds and agriculture research.The Agriculture technology in Israel is highly developed and the country is a major exporter of fresh produce despite the fact that more than half of the land area is a desert.“The most important thing we are going to start with is the construction of agriculture Centre of Excellence in Masaka, Kicukiro District. People from Israel will come here in July to showcase the artistic impression of the centre before its construction kicks off,” said Ruzindaza.He said President Paul Kagame expressed gratitude to the cooperation due to the fact that agriculture is one of the pillars of the country’s economic development.

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Rwanda, Israel to bolster agriculture cooperation