Rwanda, Israel ink deal to boost horticulture

The Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the government of Israel to help improve horticulture in the country through the establishment of an agriculture excellence centre. The centre, to be constructed at Mulindi agro-show ground, will provide training for Rwandan farmers through the-learn by doing approach. Ilan Flus Deputy head of MASHAV(L) together with Innocent Musabyimana exchange documents after signing. Amb. Ilan Fluss, the deputy head of Israel’s Agency for International Development Coorporation (Mashav), said his country will be providing experts in agriculture technologies to train Rwandan farmers. “We will help farmers to boost their productivity by helping to develop technology and professionalism. Experts from Israel will carry out field demonstration training and some Rwandan farmers will be taken to Israel for training,” Fluss said. Ilan Flus Deputy head of MASHAV listens to a question from a Journalist. Innocent Musabyimana, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, said the centre will help increase agriculture exports. “We need skilled people to help us improve our agriculture exports. Concerning horticulture products, we only have cross border trading but I believe with the agriculture excellence centre, we will also be able to export those products elsewhere.” Under the second Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategies (EDPRS II), the country projects to grow agriculture exports from 16 per cent to 28 per cent by 2017. Leo Vinovezky Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Israel takes notes. The PS added that the centre will not only help boost horticulture production and farmers’ welfare, but also help rise the contribution of agriculture toward the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) which currently stands at 33 per cent. We need 8 per cent growth and I hope the centre is one of the means to attain the goal, Musabyimana said. The foundation stone for the agriculture excellence centre was laid by Avigdor Liberman, the Israeli Foreign Affairs minister during his visit to Rwanda in June. Ilan Flus Deputy head of MASHAV together with Innocent Musabyimana cross check the documents before signing. (Photos by Timothy Kisambira) Israeli companies are also selling Rwandan paramedical equipment, curricula software and, solar energy. Gigawatt Global, an Israel firm, is building a field for the production of solar energy in the country. According to a Power Purchase Agreement, GigaWatt Global Rwanda Ltd is to design, finance, maintain and operate a 8.5 megawatt solar electric generating plant at Agahozo Shalom Youth Village in Rwamagana District. The estimated value of the project is $23 million. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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Rwanda, Israel ink deal to boost horticulture