9th Annual General meeting of RUFORUM

Participants in the Annual General meeting of RUFORUM

Prime Minister Pierre Damien Habumuremyi (Rwanda) 

listens to a participant from Nairobi University. 
The New Times, John Mbanda

18-20 September, 2013. Kigali, Rwanda. The RUFORUM 9th Annual General Meeting was hosted this year by the Government of Rwanda and the University of Rwanda. The theme of this year was “Sustaining and Mobilizing RUFORUM Universities for Effective Engagement in Agricultural Development and Transformation in Africa”.

During the 3 day event, RUFORUM organized a number of events which included the Market Place- showcasing the RUFORUM network innovations; Cultural dinners with invited guests (10 Permanent Secretaries from five African countries, 32 Vice Chancellors and 32 Deans of the RUFORUM member universities, International Advisory Panel and our Alumni) and the Visit to the Rwanda Memorial Site.

During the meeting, Ruforum also launched a book, Dirty hands, Fine Minds: The story of an Agricultural Research and Training Network in African Universities.

The goal of Ruforum is to see a vibrant agricultural sector linked to African universities which can produce high performing graduates and high-quality research responsive to the demands of Africa’s farmers for innovations and able to generate sustainable livelihoods and national economic development.

It also strives to strengthen the capacities of Universities to foster innovations responsive to demands of small holder farmers through the training of high quality researchers, the output of impact oriented research, and the maintenance of collaborative working relations among researchers, farmers, national agricultural research institutions and governments.

Launch of a book portraying RUFORUM achievements,
with the authors: Mary Anne Fitzgerald and Megan Lindow

Related: 

The New Times 24/09. Seven farmers, agricultural scientists awarded for outstanding contribution