Billionaire philanthropist Howard Buffet is in the country to visit various projects that this initiative the Howard Buffet Foundation is funding. Earlier this year, Buffet, who is the son of Warren Buffet, one of the world’s richest men pledged US$500 million (about Rwf345 billion) to support agriculture initiatives in the country. The support is aimed at transforming the sector’s productivity from subsistence to commercial through irrigation systems and skills development among other aspects. Through a 10-year strategic plan the foundation will spend $100 million this year and remainder in installments over the term of the project to support agricultural development. According to officials from the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources, his trip will see him today tour the1280 hectares irrigation scheme in Kirehe district as well as the Practical Agriculture Institute in Karama, Bugesera that is currently being constructed. His foundation has previously extended support to Rwandan projects including; the construction, worth US$9 million (about Rwf6 billion) one-stop border post linking Rubavu District in Western Province to Goma town in eastern DR Congo, supports girl child education in Rwandan refugee camps providing them with school fees and other scholastic materials.
