On 22nd Jan 2013, The Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources Dr. Agnes Matilda Kalibata signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Hon. Harish Rawat, the Union Minister of water Resources Government of India. The signing took place in New Delhi where the Minister had been invited to sign the MoU of Cooperation in Water Resource Management with a focus on irrigation and capacity building. The signing of the MoU was witnessed by the Rwanda High Commissioner to India, Ambassador Williams Nkurunziza and Indian Government Officials.
The MOU sets up a Joint Commission composed of technical staff of both countries that will be charged with follow up of planned activities. A first Joint Commission meeting of both technical teams will take place late March 2013 to identify and agree on projects and programs that will form the basis of sectoral cooperation.
In his remarks at the signing ceremony, Hon. Rawat commended the progress made by the Government of Rwanda and reiterated India’s commitment to continue working with Rwanda as a genuine partner in development.
Hon. Dr. Kalibata thanked the Minister for his hospitality and commitment to strengthening sectoral cooperation. She conveyed the Government of Rwanda’s best wishes to the Government and people of India on the occasion of India’s Republic day to be celebrated on 26th January 2013.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources is implementing irrigation programs in order to increase crop production and ensure all year round cultivation and this cooperation will benefit Rwanda in improving marshland and hillside irrigation, watershed management, capacity building of technicians and farmers.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Animals Resources has had a long history of successful collaboration and partnership with the Indian Government where several staff of the Ministry as well as those in local governments have undertaken long and short term training in India. Shortly after presenting his credentials to His Excellency the President of Rwanda, Ambassador Soumen Ray, the Indian High Commissioner to Rwanda resident in Kampala visited MINAGRI and held discussions geared towards strengthening the already existing high level cooperation between the Government of India and the Ministry.
