The Dakar-based Inter-State University of Science and Veterinary Medicine (EISMV) has pledged to play an instrumental role in the development of agriculture among the 14 countries that subscribe to it.

This was disclosed yesterday by Education Minister Dr Charles Murigande at the opening of the 38th annual meeting which brings together education ministers from the countries that subscribe to the school acting as the Administrative Council of the university.

EISMV was founded 41 years ago by fourteen African countries including Rwanda.

"This year’s administrative council session was held with a particular emphasis on the emergence of animal diseases that have had negative impacts on the development of animal husbandry in our countries,” said Murigande.

He cited examples of the diseases cow madness, bird flu and others which he said the school would look for solutions to end them.

He added that the development of animal husbandry and agriculture has contributed to the economic growth of states, reducing poverty among the people and assuring food security.

Since the school’s establishment in 1968, over 70 Rwandan students have graduated from the school and it currently has 24 students studying veterinary medicine.

The minister said that Rwanda will no longer be sending students to this school for bachelor’s degrees since similar programmes have now been introduced in Rwanda at the school of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry (ISAE) in Busogo and Mutara Polytechnic.

"I think we shall now be sending students for Masters and PhDs since we can now be able to teach the courses in our universities,” he said.

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