RWANDA RESPONSE TO THE PRESIDENT'S GLOBAL FOOD

UNCLAS KIGALI 000365 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EEB/TPP/MTA - CVOLTMER DEPARTMENT FOR EEB/TPP/ABT - GCLEMENTS DEPARTMENT FOR EEB/TPP/ABT - AWINTON DEPARTMENT FOR EEB/IFD/ODF - MSIEMER DEPARTMENT PASS FOR USDA/FAS - CJACKSON/MHOUSE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETRD EAGR EAID ECON TBIO KPAO SUBJECT: RWANDA RESPONSE TO THE PRESIDENT'S GLOBAL FOOD SECURITY INITIATIVE REF: A. STATE 52628 ¶B. STATE 53346 ¶C. STATE 52602 ¶D. STATE 53353 ¶E. KIGALI 0305 ¶1. (U) Summary: Rwanda is a net importer of staple foods and supports initiatives aimed at improving agricultural productivity, increasing access to science and technology and removing barriers to trade in staple foods. The government of Rwanda (GOR) does not impose any official export restrictions on staple foods although some local infrastructure and market barriers continue to inhibit local and regional food distribution. The GOR is cognizant of the benefits of biotechnology and mindful that biotechnology products are becoming a reality in the region. Legislation governing national biotechnology and biosafety policy for Rwanda is currently in Parliament pending approval. End summary. ¶2. (U) Emboffs met with Acting Secretary General Ministry of Agriculture - Pelagie Mukayiranga - and presented talking points of reftels a,b,d. The Acting Secretary General noted that Rwanda does not currently have sufficient domestic production of rice, wheat and maize and imports most food staples. Mukayiranga advised she was "not aware of any export restrictions" on agricultural staples and said the GOR supports measures that would improve regional food distribution. Local barriers to trade such as high transportation costs, inefficient market information systems and inadequate food storage facilities continue to inhibit local food distribution (Ref E). ¶3. (U) Separately, Emboffs spoke with Mark Bagabe - Director of the Ministry of Agriculture Research Institute - who advised that a draft law governing biotechnology and biosafety is currently pending parliamentary approval. Bagabe noted that the GOR was "mindful of the realities of GM (genetically modified crops) and biotechnology" and aware that both Kenya and Uganda are moving forward with biotechnology programs. Bagabe agreed that biotechnology is needed to advance regional food security but was not able to advise when the new law would be approved or implemented. ARIETTI