From June 22 up to June 26, 2026, at the Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB) Rubona Station in Huye District, Rwanda Youth in Agribusiness Forum (RYAF), through the PSAC project implemented by Rwanda Agriculture Export Development Board (NAEB successfully conducted a 5-day intensive training for Proximity Coaches.
The training aimed to equip participants with strong technical and practical skills to support the implementation of the Farmer Field School (FFS) approach among coffee farmers. The session kept circling around improving coffee production know-how, reinforcing the use of FFS methods, and also developing abilities in group facilitation, communication, and how to keep farmers engaged in a steady way.
During the whole training, participants also got practical exposure, including Agro-Ecosystem Analysis (AESA), using demonstration plots, and adopting community-based learning approaches that actually fit local realities. There was also a strong focus on Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) , so women, men, youth, and Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) can participate equally and get real opportunities, not only in coffee farming activities but also in the decisions that shape those activities.
Besides that, the training brought in safeguarding principles, geared towards protecting farmers and nearby communities from harm, abuse, or exclusion while project activities are being carried out. These skills are expected to be used right from the moment farmers are enrolled into FFS groups, and they will continue during all learning sessions, so the process stays safe, inclusive, and meaningful.
Participants said the training was truly mind opening, and that it notably improved their ability to support coffee farmers more effectively, while also encouraging sustainable farming practices at the community level.
At the closing remarks, RYAF CEO Jean Marie Vianney Rwiririza asked the Proximity Coaches to show commitment, professionalism, and accountability in their daily work. He stressed that the knowledge and skills they gained should turn into visible outcomes on the ground, especially when it comes to raising both coffee productivity and the quality of the harvest.
The initiative is expected to place Proximity Coaches as real agents of change within coffee-growing communities. If they apply what they learned, they can help drive higher productivity, better coffee quality, and stronger resilience for farmers across the different implementing districts.
RYAF continues to stay focused on empowering youth in agribusiness and strengthening agricultural value chains, through capacity strengthening, innovation, and inclusive development approaches, without leaving anyone behind.
Jean Bernard Mukundente/RYAF Communication and Public Relations
Email:b.mukundente@ryaf.rw /ryafcommunication@gmail.com