The ministry for agriculture (MINAGRI) and different partners have organised a special ‘Agriculture Week’ that is expected to take place from June 13 to 20 and will focus on research in agriculture. The week, according to MINAGRI, will feature events that include; the national agriculture show, the Africa agriculture science week and the general assembly of the forum for agricultural research in Africa (FARA). The forum will feature an international learning event on farmer to farmer extension, which the ministry said will be an opportunity for Rwandan researchers to learn from their counterparts from other African countries to come up with better solutions to the country’s agricultural challenges. “Researchers in agriculture from across the continent will have time to display what they do and what innovations they came up with to boost agriculture in their respective countries. ‘‘This will be a good opportunity for our researchers to share knowledge and experience with others and an opportunity to learn from what has been achieved elsewhere so that they can, through research, come up with solutions to challenges facing the agriculture sector,” said Dr Geraldine Mukeshimana, the minister for agriculture during a news conference. The activities will be held under the theme “Apply Science, Impact Livelihoods.” FARA is the continental organisation responsible for coordinating and advocating for agricultural research for development and it serves as the technical arm of the AU Commission on matters concerning agriculture, science, technology and innovation. The events will bring to Rwanda about 1,000 agriculture development stakeholders from across the continent and beyond, including scientists, international development partners, policy makers and investors. This forum will offer an opportunity to learn from other countries’ achievements in agriculture development and share experiences, according to organisers. The exhibition will showcase innovations in agriculture from different countries, and, according to the minister, will provide a good platform for creation of business linkages between participants. Dr Patrick Karangwa, the head of research department at Rwanda Agriculture Board, said quality research in agriculture has improved in Rwanda, recalling the need to learn from others on research-based solutions in agriculture sector. “There is a good step we have made on research in agriculture. For instance, on cassava diseases, in partnership with the international technology research institute (ITRI), we came up with resistant seeds to address the problem that had become rampant. We need to exchange knowledge with others so that we can come up with more solutions to improve our agriculture sector,” he said. editorial@newtimes.co.rw
