Read in
James Calhanga
President Paul Kagame appointed Ildefonse Musafiri, 44, as Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources on his March2nd to succeed Geraldine Mukeshimana.
A father of two, he graduated from the former National University of Rwanda in 2004 with a BA inDevelopmentEconomics.
Four years later, at the same university he graduated with a master’s degree in applied economics. Eightyears ago hereceived a PhD in Agricultural Economics from the University of Bonn, Germany, completinghis master’s degree. Heholds a PhD in Applied Economics from the University of Rwanda.
The appointment comes about four days afteragricultural economist Musafiri said at a National DialogueCouncil meeting,or Ummushi Kirano, that the ministry had identified six key areas. Seeds arecontinuously being improved to not onlyimprove difficult post-harvest dynamics, but also to increaseagricultural production. At the outset of the two-day meetingon February 27, Musafiri, then Minister of Statein the same ministry, said it was important to involve and monitor farmersmore in order to better supportthem. Did.
His Musafiri, a senior economist with 18 years of experience, also cites agricultural credit and insuranceschemes as veryimportant items that need more attention. As an agricultural economist above all, Musafiriwould definitely look at thecountry’s agriculture from a business context. He continuously analyzes and improves aspects such as financing inputs and resource allocation to increase production and maximize profits.
Musafiri is a hardworking man and will try to implement what he said at the Umusi Kirano panel. Like mostfootball fans,the fact that his favorite European and Premier League club Liverpool (his other favorites arePSG and Bayern Munich)are struggling can sometimes dampen his spirits. I have.
But the difficult task at hand cannot be underestimated.
Before his new appointment, Musafiri served as Minister of State in the same ministry for seven months.Musafiripreviously served as Executive Director of the Office of the President’s Strategic Policy Council(SPC). He served on theboard of the National Bank of Rwanda (BNR) from April 2018 until he wasappointed Minister of State on 30 July 2022.Mr. Musafiri is an Emeritus Senior Lecturer at the Universityof Rwanda, Faculty of Business and Economics, where hepreviously served as Lecturer and Dean ofEconomics.
His research to date has focused on analysis of development economics and policy, particularly poverty andinequality,economic growth, agriculture and food policy, climate change and environmental sustainability.Early in his career, heworked as a community development officer at World Vision Rwanda.
In addition to his native Kinyarwanda, Musafiri is fluent in English and French and has a basic knowledge ofGerman.