Youth Start Forum To Tap Into Agribusiness

Agriculture minister Geraldine Mukeshimana (L) chats with Jean Philbert Nsengimana, the Minister for Youth and ICT, during the launch of Rwanda Youth in Agribusiness Forum in Kigali yesterday.

Over 150 Rwandan youth have teamed up to make an agricultural forum with the aim of re-energizing the farming sector which is largely made of ageing community.

Rwanda’s Youth in Agribusiness Forum (RYAF) was launched Tuesday at Kigali Serena Hotel comes.

According to Agriculture Ministry, the average age of farmers in Rwanda is 55 years, yet the country’s life expectancy is between 60 and 65.

“We want to bring on board a new, innovative and enterprising cohort of our society to lead the transformation of agriculture in Rwanda – the youth,” Agriculture Minister Gerardine Mukeshimana told participants.

The country fears that in the next 10-15 years, food security may be under threat.

This youth forum RYAF, seeks to respond to challenges the agricultural sector is facing, one of them- ageing farmers.

Employment levels are considerably low at 13% among young graduates. The forum is targeting agribusiness opportunities which the youth can exploit through using new technologies.

Every year, 300,000 youths are added to the job market, especially in the off farm jobs.

The forum also comes to improve youth’s perception in agriculture as a business rather than as a choice of last resort for the unemployed.

Agriculture could attract investors in coming years. In a previous story, Rwanda cooperative Agency-RCA indicated that perhaps, a cooperative bank might begin operations this year.

The Forum has put in place a structure formed among Youth themselves, while a Government Advisory Committee led by MINAGRI will assist the Forum’s Committee when necessary, particularly in facilitating interactions with other partners.