Kigali Rwanda October 16, The Government of Rwanda launches the Youth and Agrocology National Summit 2020 under the theme “Agroecology as a pathway towards sustainable food systems and unlocking business opportunities for youth”
The launch event was officiated by Rwanda’s Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI) Jean Claude Musabyimana and was attended by different youth organization Forums, Institutions and Different Young entrepreneurs in Agriculture across Country.
Speaking at the event, PS Musabyimana thanked the Agriprofocus and its Partners for organizing important National summit for the youth and Agroecology.
Musabyimana Jean Claude pointed that farming remains the single largest source of employment for young people, where an important proportion of youbg people work in agriculture,forestry and fishing as their main job (62.2%) (EICV5,2015), This indicates that a big proportion of young people works exclusively in agriculture.
“In Agriculture ,PSTA purpose to increase the engagement ,and contribution of the Rwandan youth to the agri-food sector via educating youth and help to view the agriculture as profitable and attractive business”, PS MINAGRI said
He noted that the Government of Rwanda has initiated the RYAF the one that promotes youth entrepreneurship in agribusiness by offering a platform aimed at establishing business linkage opportunities and changing the youth’s mindset set on agribusiness
Under this platform 12000 members are registered under RYAF umbrella RYAF shop is created to help youth entrepreneurs to access markets for their products.
He said that the original agriculture in Rwanda had not yet reached a great stage because the methods of cultivation and research on it had not yet been developed to be known to all.
But it is good farming that is being done, and there are also sources of production that are very valuable because they are made in the original way. This farming in general as a science is still on the low ground but there is a way in which the farmer takes the seed and puts it in the soil alone without having anything else to put in until it is harvested. Musabyimana said
This was possible only when our world was in good condition, the soil was not rotten, and it was the first thing to be done. So as the world has become more and more degraded, so has the need for people to find other ways to feed the plants on the ground; that’s when the various fertilizers and pesticides became available. ” Musabyimana said
Xavion Imbabazi Dominique is a successful agripreneur and ManaginG Director focusing on insect breeding for food ,and feed and waste management redworms, edible crickets land snails and black flies; based in Musanze District shared his story to the participants of this summit
In his words ‘Young people, let us make agriculture sexy. Few job positions are available. Let us do business in Agriculture, insect breeding can be the way’ He produces vermi compost and worm tea all in the line of promoting agroecology in Rwanda.
Agr-ProFocus co-ordinator, Alexis, Uwizeye said that encouraging young people to join the agroecology farm did not mean that the use of industrial fertilizers was usually problematic or unproductive but rather that there were opportunities.
“There is a certain opportunity that has been brought to agriculture and the fact that other opportunities have not come would prevent us from producing it; That is, there is a chance that young people will be able to take up original agriculture status and get jobs and earn foreign exchange when we see international markets ” Uwizeye said
The objectives of Youth and Agroecology summit 2020 are to create awareness about Agroecology
And related business opportunities for youth, linking youth to expertise and opportunities around
Agroecology, sharing knowledge about youth in Agroecology and business, support the formation
Of coalitions and learning between Agroecology stakeholders and youth, and showcasing and
Connecting the right people and knowledge to emerging opportunities.
The summit brings together 100 participant’s offline; 50 youth and 50 other stakeholders from different
Organizations that promote agroecology and youth empowerment in Rwanda.
The summit targets young innovators who are already passionate and motivated about Agroecology
and business, and are ready to be change makers, and youth agribusiness leaders in drive to
transform the food systems in their communities.
From RYAF Communication