Heifer International Rwanda, a global development organization dedicated to eradicating hunger and poverty through sustainable means, has honored three exceptional young agri-tech innovators in Rwanda.
The recognition ceremony took place on Friday, August 18, at the Kigali Convention Centre (KCC).
This accolade is part of the AYUTE Rwanda Challenge, which was launched in May 2023, aiming to confront the obstacles faced by smallholder farmers while empowering youthful innovators to drive enduring change.
From an initial pool of 70 applications, the AYUTE Rwanda Challenge selected 15 outstanding participants through a meticulous screening process conducted in partnership with the Co-creation Hub (CcHub).
Following an intensive capacity-building boot camp, the top 5 finalists emerged from a virtual pre-pitch session, showcasing their remarkable innovations and unwavering commitment to revolutionize agriculture.
On Friday, the three most promising young innovators were presented with cash prizes.
Among them, Israel Niyonshuti, the proprietor of Tech Adopter Company, was bestowed with a $10,000 award. Tech Adopter is an Agritech engineering enterprise specializing in the manufacturing of equipment and spare parts for agricultural mechanization.
Norman Mugisha, the creator of Afri-Farmers Market Company, secured the 1st runner-up position and received a $6,000 prize. Afri-Farmers Market Company operates a socially conscious e-commerce platform that empowers rural and smallholder farmers by providing them with a stable market for their agricultural produce.
Frank Muhire, the 2nd runner-up and founder of MyKibo Company, was granted $4,000. MyKibo Company, headquartered in Rwanda, serves as Africa's sourcing and procurement platform for African farmers and global buyers, with a mission to impact one million farmers by 2030.
"We are deeply honored by this award. It affirms that our endeavors are extending their reach. This recognition serves as both motivation and reinforcement for our efforts, enabling us to make a more substantial impact on farmers as we expand the availability of agricultural mechanization equipment," remarked Israel Niyonshuti, the overall winner and owner of Tech Adopter Company.
He added that the company is already collaborating with over 150 farmers and aspires to expand this number to over 500 by 2025 as they manufacture more equipment available for rent or purchase.
Adesuwa Ifedi, Senior Vice President for Heifer International Africa, lauded the Rwandan youth for their foresight in shaping the future of the country's agriculture sector.
"The solutions to Africa’s challenges lie in the hands of the youth and the next generation. Agriculture remains one of the foremost sources of employment across the continent," she emphasized.
Heifer International allocates over $1.5 million annually to catalyze Africa's agricultural transformation on a significant scale through innovative approaches.
"We must foster innovation in this domain. To achieve that, funding is essential as innovation gravitates toward resources. The AYUTE competition seeks to stimulate young Africans by bringing funding within closer reach, providing support for their agricultural ideas. Among the 70 applicants in Rwanda, we witnessed top finalists presenting innovative solutions across the agricultural spectrum," Ifedi remarked.
In commending the collaborative efforts of partners, Ifedi emphasized the necessity of joint initiatives to fund young agricultural innovators, subsequently spurring job creation.
Paula Ingabire, the Minister of ICT and Innovation, expressed her appreciation for Heifer's competition in inspiring young agricultural innovators in Rwanda.
"The AYUTE Africa Challenge by Heifer offers an exceptional platform, bringing youth together to showcase their technological innovations in support of the agricultural sector. The convergence of technology and agriculture is truly exciting, presenting abundant opportunities for youth to enhance productivity and expand market access," she affirmed.
Heifer International embarked on its Rwandan journey in 2000. The organization assists farmers in establishing cooperatives, sharing knowledge, pooling resources, and gaining access to financing. To date, Heifer Rwanda's initiatives have positively influenced over 1.4 million households.
The organization's goal is to aid 1.84 million smallholder farmers in achieving a living wage and heightened climate resilience by 2030.
Heifer collaborates with the Rwandan government through the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources, as well as the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), to implement pivotal projects in the livestock sector.
Over the past 22 years, Heifer International Rwanda has partnered with development entities such as USAID, UNDP, AFDB, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Innovate UK, and Green Mountain Coffee to realize a range of impactful projects.