For those people who are put off meat consumption by its toughness or just the appearance that is not appealing to them, the powder form of this animal source of protein could be the way to go.
Indeed, young beneficiaries of the Rural Youth Employment Support (R -YES) project are exhibiting powdered meat and eggs at the 15th National Agriculture Show taking place from July 6 to 14 at Mulindi expo grounds in Gasabo District, Kigali.
The 5-year R-YES project (June 2020 - December 2024) is funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) to create employment opportunities for rural youth in agribusiness.
R-YES project is implemented by a consortium led by Kilimo Trust Rwanda. Other consortium members include the Rwanda Youth in Agribusiness Forum (RYAF) and Rwanda Polytechnic (RP) - with Integrated Polytechnic Regional Colleges (IPRCs), TVETs and agribusiness industries as centres of capacity building and employment.
R-YES project beneficiaries in machinery maintenance showcase their skills at the agriculture show at Mulindi expo grounds in Kigali.
Unemployment is one of the major issues for youth. According to the Labour Force Survey Annual Report 2021 by the national Institute of Statistics of Rwanda, 26.5 percent of the youth were unemployed, indicating that such a joblessness rate was higher than that among adults which stood at 17.1 percent.
Evariste Nshumbusha, from Gisagara District, one of the project beneficiaries told The New Times that some people do not like eating meat or eggs in their ordinary form, which deprives them of the protein they need for good nutrition.
It is to note that meat or egg powder is also needed in the bakery industry, and industry entities have been importing it.
Nshumbusha, who finished senior six in mathematics, chemistry and biology in 2015, said he had not yet gotten a job.
However, Nshumbusha said that the skills he has acquired in meat processing guarantees him employment either by working for processing companies or creating his own agribusiness to make money and improve people’s nutrition.
"I want to start my own meat processing business. I will start small and grow as I get more funding,” he said, expressing that the skills he got are thanks to great support by R-YES project. Through R-YES project, Mr. Nshumbusha is one of the youth that went through competency-based training for 3 months at IPRC Musanze and Rugari Meat Processing.
Guided by findings of labour market studies, R-YES project builds technical skills and creates employment around 10 priority opportunities to attract and provide decent employment (self and wage) to youth in agribusiness], according to Kilimo Trust.
Chicks feeding. Some of R-YES project beneficiaries were equipped with poultry farming skills, and the production of nutritious feed production for high productivity (Kilimo Trust)
They include operation and maintenance of agro-processing machinery, refrigeration and cold chain management, operation and maintenance of field irrigation, poultry farming, milk processing, meat processing, Vegetable production and processing, animal feed production, fodder production and marketing, and operations and maintenance of farm tractors and machinery.
Andrew Gashayija, R-YES Project Team Leader said that the skills the young people are getting are much sought after such that some of the trainees have gotten jobs in different agribusiness firms, even before completing their courses.
"So far, some 353 young people have benefited from this programme’s first year –first cohort – and about 100 of them have already gotten employment before completing their courses,” he said.
He added that R-YES project has also benefited from partnerships with Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB) and the Business Development Fund (BDF) which has started supporting R-YES beneficiaries’ agribusinesses
More products at the Agri-show
Mr. Gashayija said that the products being showcased by the project beneficiaries at the agri-show include yoghurt, ice cream, and other milk products, meat products, animal feed formulations, fodder production and preservation techniques for proper livestock feeding during dry season, and refrigeration/cooling and agro-machinery repair services, and irrigation equipment and services.
Divine Kanziga, another beneficiary, said that she acquired technical and entrepreneurial skills in animal feed production, expressing optimism that this will help her get employment.
The cost of feed in Rwanda is considered by experts as the main expense in livestock farming, accounting for between 60 and 70 per cent of the inputs for farmers.
The young recipients of skills in operation and maintenance of field irrigation under R-YES project, showed how drip irrigation technology works to tackle drought effects on crops. (Kilimo Trust)
And, the feed cost has been rising partly because of the increasing cost of some ingredients.
Kanziga said that the skills she received can help her to make quality and affordable feed, such as by replacing some costly ingredients with the cheap ones having the same nutrients.
"I have adequate skills to make quality and affordable animal feed for farmers’ improved productivity thanks to this project,” she said.
Even before venturing into her own business, she said there are some people who have started contacting her so that she offers them consultancy service in making feed for their livestock, which can earn her income.
"I can start a small animal feed business, then expand it and create a large company such that I can provide employment to other youths,” she said.