Proceedings discussion No

Anastase Nduwayezu, Rwanda

Q1. Experience as a youth in the agriculture sector

• 
  As an African youth engaged in the agriculture sector in my country, the following are my Experience:
  

After ending my University studies in Department of Crop production in University of Rwanda in college of agriculture , animal sciences and veterinary medicine(CAVM) in July, 2017, I have started my business with a five thousand Rwandan Francs (5000 Rwf) of working capital dealing with the cultivation of carrot on a small piece land of about 2 Ares I was given by my parents in the villages/ rural area where I have harvested of about five bags (5) in which I sold them to the price of 15,000Rwf/bagx5=75000Rwf for the first time,

For the second time, I have increased the piece of land and use of about five Ares where I have cultivated Sugar beet/ beet roots with 250 mg of seeds cost 8000Rwf and harvest 10 bags of the produce and I sold them to the price of approximately equal to 38,000Rwf/bagx10= 380,000Rwf.

Nowadays, I have extended the size of land from 5 Ares to 1 hectare and I use to engage others man powers in my daily activities where more than 1 hundred (100) labors are always deployed temporally during the cultivation season.

To engage into agriculture sectors the following are my motivation:

• 
  I was born in rural area where my family considered agriculture as priority.
  
• 
  The success stories of some of the farmers and RYAF (Rwanda Youth in Agri-business Forum) leaders E.g. Jean Baptiste Hategekimana and Regis.
  
• 
  I studied Agriculture/ Crop production in University and I have considered agriculture as a priority.
  

Q2. Major Achievements and success stories

• 
  As an African youth engaged in the agriculture sector in my country, the following are my Experience:
  

I have started my business with a five thousand Rwandan Francs (5000 Rwf) of capital dealing with the cultivation of carrot on a small piece land of about 2 Ares I was given by my parents in the villages/ rural area where I have harvested of about five bags (5) in which I sold them to the price of 15,000Rwf/bagx5=75000Rwf for the first time,

For the second time, I have increased the piece of land and use of about five Ares where I have cultivated Sugar beet/ beet roots with 250 mg of seeds cost 8000Rwf and harvest 10 bags of the produce and I sold them to the price of approximately equal to 38,000Rwf/bagx10= 380,000Rwf.

Nowadays, I have extended the size of land from 5 Ares to 1 hectare and I use to engage others man powers in my daily activities where more than 1 hundred (100) labors are always deployed temporally during the cultivation season and now I have the ability to collect the produce of horticultural crops e.g. Beet roots and carrots from different farmers and carrying them to the market as a strategies to generate an income. My action plan, is to hard work as much as possible as youth considered as an agent of changes in agri-business Forum and improve the ways I use to cultivate and increasing the size of land used to grow those crops, improving the production for both quality and quantity.

Q3) what The Rwanda Youth Conference should address

If given an opportunity, I would ask the following questions to the experts at the Rwanda youth conference on each of three sub themes

A) Youth employment and entrepreneurship

Question to ask: What are the contributions of FSN Forum to enhancing youth employment and entrepreneurship and how this forum will impact the different youths engaged in agriculture sector in Africa?

b) Digital innovation to overcome agriculture value chain constraints

Question to ask: Explain how the use of Digital innovation by youth will overcome agriculture value chain constraints?

Thank you very much and god be with you all!!

Xavio Dominique Imbabazi, University of Rwanda-College of Agriculture ,Animal sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Rwanda

Good Morning,

I am Xavio from Rwanda.

Agriculture is one of the most preferred domain from which a big percentage of people in Africa earn a decent wage. It is also a sector that provides food for families. However, this sector faces with a big challenge of traditionalism in a world where modernization is highly needed to feed an ever increasing population. Africa is highly blessed with its big and naturally fertile land which, once wisely exploited can lead to a permanent food security. But, if we look at some techniques such as land preparation, fertilization, irrigation, plant protection, seeding and post harvesting, all of them are poor in almost all countries in Africa.

Researches on this continent don't give results that immediately help farmers improve their lives, this might probably due to a low quality of education. Every year, a big number of graduates are released from different universities but it is shameful how most of them do not want to go to farms but to sit in offices and sign documents as if they are secretaries. Additionally, most of them think of getting jobs instead of thinking of how to creatively start small businesses in agriculture that can contribute to the development of on farm trials and job creation.

All in all, this continent has a lot constraints in agriculture domain, but if we can make our graduates farmers instead of supervisors, we can promote a research based agriculture where we will not feel happy for one step and feel satisfied but keep working hard for more advanced results.

Thank you.

Imbabazi Dominique Xavio,

Engineer in Horticulture from University of Rwanda-College of Agriculture, Animal sciences and Veterinary Medicine.

Expert in vermiculture and vermicomposting

Ibikunle Olaleru, Onelife Initiative for Human Development/Farming systems Research Program, National Root Crops Research Institute, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria

I am Olaleru, Ibikunle Funso, From Nigeria,

I hold a first degree in Animal science with postgraduate training in agricultural biochemistry and nutrition which has since formed my area of research interest. My career goal is to apply my knowledge of agricultural biochemistry and nutrition to improving livestock productivity of the rural famers through improved livestock nutrition with the ultimate aim of contributing to income and food security of the rural farmers. Proper alignment of agriculture production systems and prevailing policies to factors influencing food systems is needed to maximize agriculture for economic empowerment particularly in the developing countries. I therefore strongly believe that the Youth Employment in Agriculture as a Solid Solution to ending Hunger and Poverty in Africa will equip me with knowledge and exposure that will enhance my ability to make contribution to unleashing agricultural advantages for economic empowerment of Nigerian farmers. I currently work with a national agricultural research institute in Nigeria (National Roots Crops Research Institute – NRCRI) and also volunteer at Onelife Initiative for Human development, a non-govermental organisation that is youth led and based in Ibadan. At NRCRI, my research focuses on improving the whole farming systems of root and tuber crops farmers through systemic integration of crops and animals.  Over the years we have looked into sustainable incorporation of roots and tuber crop product and by products into livestock diet for optimum income and preservation of the environment. I look forward to sharing my experience with colleagues at the program and also getting a feedback from them. I believe that my experience as a research scientist in farming systems program of NRCRI would enable me to contribute meaningfully to the theme "Youth Employment in Agriculture as a Solid Solution to ending Hunger and Poverty in Africa". After the program, I look forward to applying the experience and knowledge gained in identifying relevant research areas and formulating appropriate extension packages for ICT involvement in agricultural technology to root and tuber crop farmers in the agricultural farming system of Nigeria. One of the first step to achieving this will be my presentation of Institute-wide seminar to share my newly acquired knowledge with fellow scientists and also institutionalizing the gains of the program.