Editor,

RE: "Govt to set up new agric institute” (The New Times, July 21).

The University of Rwanda (UR) has a fully fledged College of Agriculture Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine. The college is divided into three schools: School of Agriculture, Rural Development and Agricultural Economics; School of Agricultural Engineering and Environmental Management; and School of Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine.

Judging from the above, UR seems well equipped and covered in the knowledge areas. So why would the Ministry of Agriculture wish to spend more money starting up a ‘practical’ training college in agriculture?

Do they believe the University is not being practical enough? Why not instead engage the UR and Ministry of Education to develop more relevant practical training programmes for their students?

Why not partner with the University to provide the necessary resources and know-how since they do this best and save taxpayers money that can be used in other priority areas?

Or maybe the concept is different from the UR trainings? And even so, it would be better to join strengths with an institution that’s already experienced in this.

Kigali Girl