As government continues to roll out several strategies to increase agricultural produce, several youth groups have come forward to seize the opportunities that come with these efforts.

One such group is Gashora Gold. Set up in 2014, it is comprised of 40 members and produces ‘peanut butter’ from groundnuts.

Christine Ashimwe, 18, a Senior Six student from Gashora Girls Academy in Bugesera District, is one of the brains behind the project. 

"We conceived the idea from a similar product we used to consume at school, which was imported from the U.S. We realised we could make a similar product locally. So, we sought partners and funds to produce the product,” said Ashimwe, the co-chief executive and human resource manager of the company.

Currently, they supply product to local hotels and institutions.

"When we have orders for large quantities we can produce about 200 bottles per month in different sizes –350ml, 400ml or 500ml,” she said.

‘Embrace local products’

Initially, it was only Ashimwe and another schoolgirl running the firm, but they have since grown to a team of over 40 people, including 10 executive managers.

They are all students. 

"We also employ three neighbours, women from Gashora – and we have at least five salaried workers,” she said.

Ashimwe said that the business saves about Rwf500,000 per month.

The business produces at least 100 bottles per month but depending on demand the production can increase to over 200 bottles.

Ashimwe said one of their challenges is winning public confidence that females too can do a good job in the area of manufacturing.  

"We have witnessed this in various competitions we participated in. Even where you can offer a better product people still doubt because we are girls. At the beginning, we also faced financial constraints,” she said.

She called on Rwandans to embrace local products.

Funding, information gap

The group draws support from the school.

Their ambition is to grow their business to international standards and to start exporting.

Ashimwe appealed for support in marketing their products.

Jean Baptiste Hategekimana, the chairperson of Rwanda Youth and Agribusiness Forum (RYAF) and a farmer in Gicumbi District, said lack of permanent workers to follow on agribusiness projects affects such undertakings.

Hategekimana said that the sector also faces funding challenges and information gap.

Launched in May 2016, RYAF is a youthful platform that aims to create a critical mass of change agents in Rwanda’s continued efforts to transform the agriculture sector from subsistence to commercially oriented farming.

"The plan is to create between 80,000 and 100,000 jobs annually, up from the current 1,228 youth ‘agripreneurs’ who are the registered members of RYAF. An individual member can now employ at least 19 workers at a minimum,” said Hategekimana.

Role of MINAGRI

The youth were speaking at a consultative stakeholders meeting organised by RYAF, with the support from the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry (MINAGRI) and Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), last week.

The State Minister for Agriculture, Fulgence Nsengiyumva, promised full government support toward youth agribusiness projects.

"On behalf of MINAGRI, I wish to reiterate our commitment to continue supporting RYAF in achieving its objectives,” he said.

He challenged the youth running agribusiness projects to go upcountry and inspire their rural peers to invest in agribusiness.

Edithe Kagwera, the in charge of agribusiness department at MINAGRI, said the ministry offers youth agribusiness projects both moral and financial support and tries to link them with other skilled groups of businesses to help scale up their produce.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw