Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on his first visit to Rwanda, participated in Rwandan Government's Girinka Programme, and gifted 200 cows to villagers.

The function, held at Rweru Model village, marked the handing of the cows in front of Rwandan President Paul Kagame. On the occasion, PM Modi spoke and appreciated the programme and the President's initiative. He added that the programme will help transform villages in Rwanda.

Under the Girinka Programme, the poorest people of a region get cows from the government and gift the first female calf to a neighbour to promote brotherhood. It was started as a response to the alarmingly high rate of malnutrition and to accelerate livestock farming in the country.

The Girinka Programme has improved agricultural productivity in milk and milk products and reconciled communities in Rwanda. Hundreds of thousands of cows have been distributed under the programme.

As of now, Prime Minister Modi has left for Uganda. In the last leg of the three-nation African tour, the PM will visit Johannesburg for the 10th edition of the BRICS summit.

(Featured Image – The Indian Express)