On the sidelines of the just concluded Africa Food Systems Forum (AFSF) held in Kigali, Rwanda, IITA Director General and CGIAR Regional Director for Continental Africa, Dr Simeon Ehui, met with Rwanda’s Minister of Agriculture, Dr Ildephonse Musafiri, to discuss strengthening agricultural research collaboration and food security efforts.
Highlighting IITA’s commitment to supporting Rwanda’s agricultural advancements, DG Ehui said IITA and CGIAR are committed to solving today’s—and tomorrow’s—interconnected food, land, water, and climate crises. “We are keen about exploring ways to contribute to what Rwanda is doing in research, agriculture, and food security,” DG Ehui said.
“IITA’s goal is to transform agriculture and food security through our research efforts in Africa, and we are particularly interested in engaging policymakers and governments, as this is key to achieving our goals. Part of our visit to Rwanda is aimed at aligning our core areas of interest in research and agriculture, and I am here in my dual role as the CGIAR Director for Africa, so other CGIAR centers can come on board to recommend solutions for some of the areas raised during our discussions,” he explained further.
The discussions centered on enhancing agricultural productivity, promoting food security, and leveraging research innovations, and Dr Musafiri emphasized the need for practical solutions. The minister said there is a need to measure the impact while exploring existing technologies and how they can be scaled for impact. He added that several challenges exist along the path of scaling agricultural innovations.
One key outcome of the meeting was the decision to hold a technical meeting between a team from IITA and the Ministry of Agriculture to explore potential areas of partnership in greater detail. Both parties agreed that a technical team would be constituted for further discussions and a formal visit to IITA headquarters in Nigeria to explore available innovations for potential adoption in Rwanda’s agriculture sector.
The minister also touched on the potential for joint proposal writing and pitching, looking to partner with CGIAR to secure resources and support for future projects. “The prospect of proposal writing and pitching in partnership with CGIAR is promising,” Dr Musafiri stated, signaling Rwanda’s openness to collaborative ventures that will advance the country’s agricultural agenda.
The meeting signals a new phase of collaboration for both IITA and the Rwanda Ministry of Agriculture. Both parties committed to working together to transform agriculture in Rwanda and across Africa.
Contributed by ‘Timilehin Osunde
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