KIRD Hosts an Invitational Project Fellowship Course

Crop Cultivation Technology Promotion and Farmers' Organization Development (The 1st Course)

Under the Rwanda Community Support Project (RCSP)
June 21 ~July 7, 2018 Suwon, Korea

(The Rwanda Community Support Project(RCSP) Under an agreement between the two governments - the Republic of Rwanda(the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning) and the Republic of Korea(the Korea International Cooperation Agency: KOICA) � the Rwanda Community Support Project (RCSP) is being implemented over for five years the period of November 2014  - December 2018. The project aims to increase agricultural productivity of farmers in the marshlands & hill sides in several targeting areas and therefore to increase farmers� income. In particular the project applies the approach of Saemaul Undong, Korea’s rural village development movement, in carrying out the planned programs. The Saemaul Undong approach toward promoting agricultural and rural development places an emphasis on participatory activities of the people in the rural community as well as strengthening the capacity and ownership of farmers who take part in the project.

   The main components of the project consist of the development and rehabilitation of marshland and hillside for agricultural cultivation in six targeting areas: (1) Ruterana, Muhanga District, Southern Province; (2) Kajevuba, Gasabo District, Kigali Province: (3)  Ruzigambogo, Gasabo District, Kigali Province; (4) Kanyonyomba Upper, Gatsibo District,Eastern Province; (5) Rwinkwavu, Kayonza District, Eastern province; (6) Bwanya,Gicumbi Gatibo District, Northern Eastern Province. In parallel with the infrastructure investment some programs for creating agricultural value chains as well as strengthening agricultural technology and farming skills. The project cost estimated to USD 12.5 million is shared by the two governments � USD 11 million by Korea and USD 1.5 million by Rwanda. 

   The project is supported  by a couple of capacity building activities of the project beneficiaries: short-term fellowship program � invitational program to Korea as well as advisory and training program in the field. A couple of invitational training courses are designed under the framework of the RCSP. The invitational fellowship program is designed for policy practitioners, program officers, project managers, community leaders and representatives from farmers organizations.

   The first course of the invitational fellowship program is titled “Crop Cultivation Techno-  logy Promotion and Farmers' Organization Development� The second is “Leadership-based Rural Village and Community Development�. The two program courses will be carried out in 2018 in a consecutive manner. Entrusted by KOICA the Korea Institute for Rural Development(KIRD) will host the 1^st course for seventeen(17) days from June 21 to July 7, 2018, while the 2^nd course from July 26 to August 11, 2018 in Suwon, South Korea.

(The First Course: Crop Cultivation Technology Promotion and Farmers'   Organization Development) Along with expanding agricultural infrastructure better agricultural technologies and farming techniques are to be developed and applied to farmers in the field. Reclaimed farm-land and rehabilitated facilities in marshland and hillside would enable farmers to expand their arable space for farming with advanced farming practices. Especially better crop cultivation technologies could be introduced upon learning from others� experience. In Farmers� organization may function as a platform for sharing knowledge and experience learned local and abroad. In creating and expanding agricultural value chains farmers� organization could do some pivotal role as a business entity or a collaborative learning and working group.

   The fellowship course “Crop Cultivation Technology Promotion and Farmers� Organization Development is designed for building capacity of policy practioners, project managers and    rural leaders for carrying out the Rwanda Community Support Project(RCSP) successfuly,    especially in the area of crop cultivation and farmers' organization. The learning through this course aims (1)  To promote crop cultivation technology and farming practices in the

targeting project area for enhancing agricultural productivity by sharing knowledge and experience in crop cultivation technologies and farming skills of rice, upland food crops, and vegetables.; (2)  To empower rural community leaders and organizations for activating community-based  and –driven, and participatory rural development.

   While sharing Korea's development experiences in this target area and learning subject a variety of learning activities will be arranged including lectures, case studies, study and field visits and group discussions. The focus of the first course this month will be placed on the three(3) modules: (1) Crop Cultivation technology and Promotion Programs; (2) Farming  Management Technologies for Crop Cultivation : (3)  Activating Farmers' Organization and Rural Community.

   In this course twenty(20) fellows from Rwanda will take part in. The course will be held mainly in Suwon, the capital city of Gyeonggi-do(Province). It will last for seventeen(17 ) days by July 7, 2018.