Writer: Paul Schattenberg, 210-467-6575, paschattenberg@ag.tamu.edu
Contact: Dr. Linda Cleboski, 979-845-0706, l-cleboski@tamu.edu
Background: Texas A&M University has the lead role in a new five-year project to help improve Rwanda’s agricultural capacity and the quality of life for its people. The Sustaining Partnership to enhance Rural Enterprises in Agribusiness Development project, also known as SPREAD, is a joint effort between the U.S. Agency for International Development and the Texas A&M University System. The project extends and expands previous partnership efforts by these two agencies, Michigan State University, the National University of Rwanda, and various agricultural industry groups and humanitarian organizations. The international development agency has provided $5 million for agricultural enhancement and $1 million for health-related issues. Project partners are providing an additional $3 million in funding.
The new project provides “a mandate to work with Rwandan coffee producers and producers of other key high-value crops to help with the production and marketing of their agricultural products,” said Dr. Linda Cleboski, program development coordinator at The Norman E. Borlaug Institute for International Agriculture at Texas A&M in College Station.
WHO: Dr. Tim Schilling of Texas A&M, the project’s leader. Schilling, who has lived in Butare, Maraba, Rwanda since 2001, has been instrumental in designing and leading the innovative program to revive the Rwandan coffee industry and develop agricultural outreach.
WHAT: Presentation by Dr. Schilling on the new project. Key program components include quality improvement control, environmental practices, organic and fair trade certification preparedness, capacity building, off-farm business development, marketing and sales, credit and finance, and health and HIV/AIDS awareness.
WHEN: From 3-5 p.m. on Nov. 15
WHERE: Room 310 of Texas A&M’s Jack K. Williams Administration Building. A map showing building’s location is at: http://www.tamu.edu/map/building/overview/ADMN.html .
WHY: To provide an overview of the new project and explain how it will bring greater prosperity to Rwanda. Project participants hope to see an increase in selected agricultural commodity sales from $3 million in 2005 to $12 million by 2011. Specialty coffee exports are expected to increase from 2,000 metric tons in 2006 to 10,000 metric tons in 2011. Project partners will also work to increase HIV/AIDS awareness and improve the role of women in Rwandan society.
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