Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08KIGALI365
2008-05-23 10:31:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Kigali
Cable title:
RWANDA RESPONSE TO THE PRESIDENT'S GLOBAL FOOD
how-toVZCZCXYZ0012 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHLGB #0365 1441031 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 231031Z MAY 08 FM AMEMBASSY KIGALI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5327 INFO RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA PRIORITY 0166 RUEHJB/AMEMBASSY BUJUMBURA PRIORITY 0312 RUEHDR/AMEMBASSY DAR ES SALAAM PRIORITY 1127 RUEHKM/AMEMBASSY KAMPALA PRIORITY 1895 RUEHKI/AMEMBASSY KINSHASA PRIORITY 0447 RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI PRIORITY 1220
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
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
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