February 15, 2025

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From training to investment, Kilimo Trust sparks growth for Rwanda’s young agripreneurs

In Rwanda, Kilimo Trust through  the Rural Youth Employment Support (R-YES) Project is paving the way for rural youth to thrive in agribusiness by creating sustainable employment opportunities. Through the established integrated agribusiness hub in Rwanda, the initiative has empowered young entrepreneurs with the skills and knowledge needed to excel. One of the key components of this effort is a four-day entrepreneurship workshop held from January 21-24, 2025, which targeted preselected youths to help them sharpen their business operations and prepare for growth and investment opportunities.

The R-YES project, which has been running since 2020 to June 2025, is funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and implemented in Rwanda by Kilimo Trust.

Pierre Celestin MASENGESHO, founder and CEO of PRIGE LTD, a vegetable and fruit farming business based in Gakenke District, Northern Province of Rwanda, highlighted the significant benefits he gained from this four-day workshop. “We got more benefits because we learned essential skills for our business,” he noted.

Masengesho emphasized three key lessons: budgeting, financial management, and agricultural planning. “To be a farmer, some people believe it’s no profitable, but now we know how to get money from farming,” he stated, expressing the workshop’s transformative impact on his outlook.

The workshop addressed critical gaps, including poor financial planning, seasonal planting challenges, and a lack of skills in pitching to investors. “Before this, we didn’t know how to plan for money, plant according to seasons, or request loans. Now, we know how to pitch our business, budget, and even approach banks,” he said.

However, Masengesho pointed out challenges young entrepreneurs face, especially access to capital. “The main challenge is lack of money; banks and investors don’t believe in us because we’re young,” he explained.

To tackle these issues, he recommended that banks, government agencies like RAB and MINAGRI, and organizations like RDB should trust and support young entrepreneurs by providing training and collaborative opportunities. “We need technical support too. Technicians should visit farms instead of staying in offices,” Masengesho urged.

Masengesho reflected hope for a brighter future in agriculture through collaboration, training, and increased investment.

Agnes UWITONZE, a young entrepreneur from Musanze District, Northern Province of Rwanda, runs a startup business cultivating fresh mushrooms. Speaking about her experience, she highlighted the pivotal role of Kilimo Trust in shaping her entrepreneurial journey. “Through Kilimo Trust, I got the chance to attend the trainings they prepared, where they helped me to know how I can make a business plan, how I can request for the funds from different investors, [and] how I can convince them to invest in my business.” She emphasized the workshop’s value in improving her business operations, such as recording transactions and reviewing her business strategies.

Uwitonze also outlined significant challenges affecting her business. “I use cotton in order to produce my products, so to get cotton here in Rwanda… I import it from Tanzania,” she explained, highlighting delays and logistical challenges. Additionally, as a startup, limited capital restricts her ability to meet a large market demand, both locally and internationally.

She called on to the government to provide youth-friendly support mechanisms, saying, “I request the government to help us to use the documents that are at the level of the youth, because they request many things.” Her appeal underscores the need for accessible resources and simplified processes for young entrepreneurs.

Andrew GASHAYIJA, the Country Team Leader for Kilimo Trust Rwanda, highlighted the purpose and impact of this youth-focused boot camp designed for entrepreneurs who graduated from their incubation program.

He explained, “This boot camp was meant for the youth that have graduated through our incubation programme who have gone ahead to start their own businesses. So it is purely for the entrepreneurs and the main purpose is for them to understand the standards, regulations that concern their businesses.”

The boot camp emphasized equipping young entrepreneurs with knowledge about quality standards, tax regulations, and business compliance. According to Gashayija, many entrepreneurs struggle to comply with business regulations, which are why the event included partners such as Rwanda FDA, Rwanda Inspectorate, Competition and Consumer Protection Authority, and Rwanda Standards Board. This partnership ensured participants had the opportunity to ask questions and understand market requirements.

“The youth can get to know the details, the requirements, ask all the questions, get all the answers, and move on with a good understanding of what is expected of their products,” Gashayija said.

He praised the enthusiastic response of the participants, noting their curiosity and eagerness to apply what they learned. Many attendees had already begun pursuing certification processes, such as the S-MARK, showcasing their commitment to improving their businesses.

Gashayija expressed confidence in the long-term benefits of the boot camp, stating, “This bootcamp is going to provide a long-lasting mark and impact on their business because the understanding of standards and regulations not only saves them from the compliance issues, but also ensures that the product that goes on the market, everyone can consume it with confidence.”

Addressing broader challenges for youth in business, he advised entrepreneurs to focus on understanding and complying with standards, which he emphasized as a manageable process.

“Complying with these standards is actually not something big, all you need is just to know how it’s done, sometimes it’s as simple as just seeking the knowledge and reaching out to the people who do it,” he said. He dispelled misconceptions that compliance requires significant investment, highlighting that knowing requirements and implementing necessary measures is often enough to succeed.

Beyond training, the boot camp included pitching sessions, enabling organizers to assess the sustainability and viability of participants’ businesses. Gashayija explained that some youth would receive equipment to support their business growth, with the limited resources allocated to the most promising ventures. He also noted the program’s scale up, sharing that while this was the fourth cohort, Kilimo Trust Rwanda has supported over 3,000 youth so far through their initiatives.

Teddy MUTONI, a Plant Farm and Warehouse Inspector at the Rwanda Inspectorate, Competition and Consumer Protection Authority (RICA), spoke about the importance of agricultural training for youth. She emphasized, “It’s very important for youth because they are gaining skills and knowledge about the sector that they are trying to develop.” Mutoni pointed out that for those aiming to export, understanding export conditions and compliance is essential.

She highlighted challenges young agricultural entrepreneurs face, such as lack of information about market access and standard compliance. According to Mutoni, “They are producing but they don’t know the market standards leading to looses.”

Mutoni advised aspiring farmers to engage with relevant institutions like RICA to ensure they meet export requirements. She stressed the importance of farm registration, stating, “In RICA we do registering of farms because some of the countries we export to require a farm traceability code.”

She encouraged early declaration of farms, especially for export to markets like Europe, where non-compliance can lead to challenges. Her key message was, “It’s better to declare their farms as early as possible.”

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