Rwanda has unveiled six flagship agriculture projects designed to expand youth employment across the agrifood sector.

The initiatives fall under the National Strategy for Youth Employment in Agrifood Systems (NS-YEAS) 2025/26–2029/30, launched on November 25 during the Youth Forward for Agrifood Systems Transformation (YOUTH FAST) Forum 2025.

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Through NS-YEAS, the country aims to create 849,000 jobs in agrifood systems by 2029—about 170,000 annually—representing 68 percent of the National Strategy for Transformation (NST2)’s yearly target. The strategy is expected to cost Rwf173 billion over five years, or roughly Rwf35 billion per year.

The six flagship projects include greenhouse-based horticulture, pig farming, poultry production, agricultural mechanisation, seed system development, and forage production.

All will be implemented through anchor farmer–based youth enterprises serving as hubs for production, training, and market linkages.

Speaking to The New Times, Rosine Mukeshimana, a young agripreneur and founder of Eagle Farm Ltd in Gicumbi District, welcomed the initiatives, saying they offer meaningful solutions to youth unemployment and span multiple value chains, which helps diversify opportunities for young people to utilise their potential.

"This is promising in terms of addressing unemployment among the youth, for us to be able to contribute to our country’s development and improve our wellbeing,” she said.

For her, expanding existing youth-owned agribusinesses would enable them to employ more people, but challenges such as rising feeds prices, and limited vaccine availability, still need to be addressed.

Alexis Rwibasira, a young avocado producer and exporter, told The New Times that the strategy will improve youth empowerment, capacity building, and market access. He also called for more youth-led hubs across all districts and committed to using his farm as a model for the pilot projects.

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According to MINAGRI, while agriculture employs about 62 per cent of Rwanda’s workforce, it remains challenged by climate shocks, low productivity, and limited access to land, finance, and technology. These constraints have somehow made agriculture less attractive to young people, while youth unemployment rate is estimated at more than 15 per cent.

Alexandre Rutikanga, the Chief Technical Advisor (CTA) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources, said more than Rwf25 billion of the required Rwf35.4 billion has already been mobilised, with the remaining resources still being sought. He added that the projects serve as scalable models that can be replicated across the country.

"If we continue to replicate this model, we will effectively achieve the five-year strategy [for youth employment in agrifood systems],” he said.

1. Greenhouse horticulture

The Youth Empowerment on Protected Agriculture (YEPA) project will establish five greenhouse units of 10,000 m² (1 hectare) each in Ndego Sector, Kayonza District—an area prone to drought. The initiative aims to create about 400 direct jobs, strengthen protected horticulture skills, improve product quality, and reduce post-harvest losses. Its budget exceeds Rwf2 billion.

Rutikanga said that youth employment will be created in aggregation, sales, and extension services, among others.

Ndego, he said, was chosen for the pilot because farmers there often face drought and interrupted production cycles.

2. Pig farming

The Empowering Youth through Commercial Pig Farming (MYPIG) project will support youth cooperatives and companies in ten districts across Southern and Western provinces and in Gatsibo District. Fifteen pig sheds holding at least 100 pigs each will be established for both meat and breeding operations.

The project is expected to create 3,156 jobs and has a budget of Rwf3.9 billion.

3. Poultry farming

The Empowering Youth in Poultry Value Chain Development for Enhanced Livelihoods (EYPDEL) project will focus on modern poultry farming in Gisagara, Karongi, and Rulindo districts.

With 30,000 chicken, the initiative aims to create 300 jobs, increase youth incomes, expand access to affordable animal protein, and support national nutrition goals. Its budget is Rwf695.9 million.

4. Agricultural mechanisation

The Youth Agriculture Mechanisation Service Hubs (YAMS) project will establish hubs equipped with machinery for land preparation, planting, harvesting, spraying, and water drilling.

Targeting Eastern and Southern provinces, it aims to boost agricultural efficiency, support irrigation expansion, and improve access to water for livestock.

It is expected to create 117 jobs and has a budget of Rwf19.3 billion, which covers costs including buying the required equipment.

5. Youth-led seed production

This project seeks, among others, to strengthen certified seed production systems for key crops. It includes certified potato seed production linked to major seed companies such as SPF Ikigega, and also supports rice, avocado, mango, and pineapple seed systems.

The potato seed component alone has a budget of Rwf4.6 billion and will create over 550 jobs. The overall project aims to create 1,350 jobs across all crops. The rice component has a budget of more than $1.3 billion, mango Rwf258 million, and pineapple over Rwf568 million.

6. Forage production

The Fodder and Hydroponic Production project will increase the availability of high-quality livestock feed through hydroponic systems (consisting of growing livestock fodder using a soilless method that involves water, nutrients, and a controlled environment), forage seed production, and fodder conservation.

It aims to boost livestock productivity and create more than 200 youth jobs. The project budget is slightly above Rwf1 billion.

Implementation approach

The projects will be implemented through a partnership framework involving anchor farmers, financial institutions, development partners, and key government agencies including MINAGRI, Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB), National Agricultural Export Development Board (NAEB), and Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture (RICA).

Anchor farmers will mentor youth, support market integration, and ensure business sustainability through formal tripartite agreements.

Training will be central, focusing on leadership, management, technical skills, and market knowledge, delivered through both classroom instruction and practical demonstrations.

Youth will be selected through a public call for proposals based on project-specific eligibility criteria.

Funding models

Two blended financing models will be used. Direct support will be provided during project start-up and repaid once youth enterprises become profitable.

A matching grant model will cover 70 per cent of project costs through government or partners, with youth contributing the remaining 30 per cent—20 per cent in-kind and 10 per cent in cash after they reach break-even.

At the launch of the strategy and flagship projects, Loyce Bamwine, Director of Social Impact Investments at Equity Bank Rwanda, said the bank is committed to empowering communities through food and agriculture investments. Equity Bank Rwanda has committed to allocating 30 percent of its loan book to agriculture by 2030, with a focus on youth and women, she reaffirmed.

"We have a very clear strategic plan for agriculture which is aligned to NST2 and the national strategy for agriculture [transformation] so that we ensure that we touch all the value chains, but mainly our focus is youth and women lending,” she said.