From September 2-6, 2024, Kigali, Rwanda held the Africa Food Systems Forum 2024 the world's premier forum for African agriculture and food systems, bringing together stakeholders to take practical actions and share lessons that will move African food systems forward, among the many participating organizations, members of the Rwanda Youth in Agribusiness Forum (RYAF) were notably active. They shared that the insights gained from the forum would significantly enhance their daily agricultural activities.
Shimo Yvette, the founder of Farmiza Ltd, a company that supports activity for crop production, reflected on her experience at the Africa Food Systems Forum 2024 “I was at the #AFSForum2024 to learn more about careers in the Agri-Food System, with a particular emphasis on sustainable farming to improve food security and boost the continent of Africa's economy. What interested me was how technology may improve farming methods and spur economic growth.”
RUGWIRO Fabrice, who focuses on social media Agri-influencer, “As a youth, this summit offered us a great chance to interact and connect with important players in the food value chain around the continent.
In particular, I have been fortunate to gain insights into the pivotal role that young people play in enhancing agricultural productivity and increasing the value of #AgriFood products, with a focus on achieving food security and expanding market access.
I am confident that the knowledge and insights I gained from this conference will help me further my professional expertise and significantly contribute to the collective advancement of my fellow young professionals in the field.”
One of the biggest takeaways for Angelique was the chance to meet and network with fellow agripreneurs from different parts of Africa. This networking led to valuable discussions on various aspects of agribusiness. “I interacted with entrepreneurs involved in the circular food system, and they shared insights on how I could expand my business,” The CEO of ZEAN LTD, NIMUKUZE Angelique said.
Moreover, Angelique NIMUKUZE was thrilled to meet potential buyers from different countries who expressed interest in her products. “Some of the participants loved the products we make, and they even offered to take them to their home countries. This is a big opportunity for us to explore new markets,” she said.
“We had the opportunity to connect with Honorable. Dr. Ildephonse MUSAFIRI, Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources, and learn from him about how we can leverage the power of digital technology to improve the livelihoods of farmers.” Jean CLAUDE NIYOMUGABO CO founder of Agirite said.
“This year's theme highlighted the urgent need to unleash and leverage the creative potential of the continent's youth and women to accelerate economic development.” AGRF Website.
The theme of the Africa Food Systems Forum 2024 was Innovate, Accelerate, and Scale: Delivering Food Systems Transformation in a Digital and Climate Era. More than 500 youths from RYAF attended the forum.
RYAF Communication Team