REWANDA RESPONSE TO PROPOSED GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP

UNCLAS KIGALI 000821 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE/EEB - MLURIE, JSPECK PASS TO USAID - BHAMMINK PASS TO USDA KMILLER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAGR EAID ECON EFIN EINV ETRD PGOV KIDE AID RW SUBJECT: REWANDA RESPONSE TO PROPOSED GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP FOR AGRICULTURE AND FOOD REF: STATE 123480 ¶1. (U) Emboffs reviewed reftel talking points with Minister of State in Charge of Agriculture Dr. Agnes Kalibata. Kalibata welcomed the initiative and agreed that a global partnership would be helpful for advancing global food security. The Minister noted global food insecurity "will not go away" and needed to be addressed through global cooperative programs. ¶2. (U) Kalibata suggested that while much emphasis has been focused on food production, Rwanda needs more "post harvest" assistance. She noted that "if farmers produce but then can't sell their products due to poor crop storage facilities and inefficient markets then there is no incentive for them to produce next season". The minister recommended more attention be placed on organizing farmer cooperatives and providing them with assistance in selling their products outside of their immediate communities. Better storage facilities and packaging materials were also key to selling beyond local markets, she said. ¶3. (U) The minister said that Rwanda's harvests have been excellent, but that demand from external markets such as the Sudan and Uganda has keep prices relatively high. While this benefited the rural communities, she admitted that urban consumers were suffering from the higher prices. SYMINGTON