Many youth consider agriculture as an activity for rural people or the illiterates. But this thinking could soon end, thanks to a new project that seeks to attract youth into agribusiness.

The "Farming is cool” Rwanda initiative is aimed at changing the mindset of youth so that they embrace agriculture as a business.

Under the project spearheaded by Balton Rwanda, the youth will be equipped with modern farming skills and helped to secure funding to engage in agribusiness ventures, Tony Nsanganira, the State Minister for Agriculture and Animal Resources, said at the launch of the project last week.

The project is part of Balton’s larger "Farming is cool Africa” initiative.

Nsanganira said the initiative is in line with the government policy that promotes private sector involvement in agriculture to help create more jobs for youth and boost household income. This is one of the objectives of the second Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy (EDPRS II).

Balton has partnered with government and the Private Sector Federation to implement the project.

The Farming is cool initiative is also geared at strengthening the agriculture sector, as well as engaging youth to consider careers in agriculture.

According to Gilad Millo, the Balton Group’s head of business development and public relations, attracting youth into agriculture will accelerate Rwanda’s economic growth.

"It’s one of the most convenient ways through which the sector can be improved by adopting innovative ways of production,” Millo said.

Millo noted that changing people’s mindsets about farming will ensure sustainability of the agriculture industry.A similar initiative was started in Kenya in 2011 by Balton’s sister company, Amiran Kenya.

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