On August 14, 2023, the Rwanda Youth in Agribusiness Forum (RYAF) welcomed a delegation of five Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs (SAYFC) members who spent five days in Rwanda for study visits and learned more about how Rwandan youth are transforming the agri-food system. The visit of SAYFC to Rwanda was part of the partnership agreement RYAF has had with these Scottish young farmers since 2018 to ensure the youth are empowered to become agents of change in the agrifood system.
On the first day of the visit, five members of the Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs (SAYFC) visited the Kigali Genocide Memorial to pay respect to the victims of the Genocide against the Tutsi. In the afternoon, the SAYFC team trained some members of the RYAF called social media agri-influencers at K Lab. The discussions centred on how agri-influencers can utilise social media as a means of generating income while transforming agri-food systems.
Day 2 of the visit, the SAY FC team visited a hydroponic strawberry farm called EzaNeza in the Shyogwe Sector of Muhanga District. Day 3 visited the Uruhimbi Kageyo cooperative, which specializes in hydroponic fodder production in the Kageyo Sector of Gicumbi District, Northern Province of Rwanda. In the afternoon, the SAYFC team went to visit Bigogwe, located in the Nyabihu District, Western Province of Rwanda. Visit Bigogwe offers visitors cow experiences, the chance to learn how to milk, cowboy games, and walking on beautiful green farms.
On August 17, 2023, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources, Mr. Olivier Kamana, received the team of Scottish Associations for the Young Farmers Clubs (SAYFC) and the RYAF Board and Secretariat of RYAF. PS has appreciated the partnership between both institutions (RYAF and SAYFC) and recommended that the partnership should generate more innovations, new skills, and technology for Rwandan and Scottish youth involved in the agrifood system.
There was an action to sign a renewal MOU for the partnership agreement to guide the partnership for the next 2 years (2023–2025). The interventions will include inspiring young people from both countries to be involved in agribusiness, supporting entrepreneurship and innovation, coaching and mentorship programmes, capacity building and leadership, cultural exchange, and study tours.
The MoU was signed by RYAF chairperson Sakina Usengimana and Jane Strawhorn, SAYFC National Chairperson. On the last day, a team from the Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs also paid a visit to the RYAF shop located at Kimironko.
The Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs (SAYFC) is a membership organisation for young people who live and work in rural Scotland. With over 70 clubs throughout the country, we are a vibrant and supportive network for people aged between 14 and 30 years.
From RYAF Communication