Gov’t targets PPP for agri-park development

Government through the Ministry of Agriculture is eyeing Private-Public Partnerships to develop eight hectares of land secured as an agri-park in the Kigali special economic zone. Agnes Kalibata Minister of agriculture and animal husbandry said ground breaking has started for first-phase activities. The first batch of projects includes silo plants for green storage facilities, seed plant to process seeds, ice plant to manufacture ice and make it available to the business community. The ice plant will also be used for food preservation especially in the fish industry. According to Kalibata, the agri-park will also host input warehouse, macadamia plant and the agriculture Mechanization unit will be transferred from Kabuye. “This is a business agricultural park with an objective to become the agricultural business centre, and not for the purpose of teaching, learning, and research on agriculture,” karibata said. The agriculture park is seen as a catalyst and a platform for the integration of the various components of agriculture business and is in line with the government’s intention to boost agriculture. The agricultural research is conducted in Rwanda Agriculture Research Institute (SAR). The mandate of ISAR is to carry out research in agronomy, animal and environmental sciences. It is the head body for coordination of all agricultural research activities in Rwanda. Agriculture park is one of the potential investors that have acquired land at the Kigali economic zone. Other investors include Pepsi cola Uganda, Trust co Rwanda and Mutara enterprise. Kigali special economic zone is expected to attract potential investors both local and international investors given the geographic position, business environment and good governance. Ends

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Gov’t targets PPP for agri-park development