In response to the urgent need to make Rwanda’s agrifood systems more efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable, the Government of Rwanda has identified poultry as a key sector for improving national food security and generating income for small-scale farmers, including youth and women.

With support from the FAO, four poultry model farms have been established in Nyaruguru, Ruhango, and Nyanza districts, benefiting 41 dedicated youth and 186 youth and women who received 5,000 chickens with feed for two months. All beneficiaries have been trained by FAO experts, and covered poultry farming and other business-related subjects such as entrepreneurship and use of technology in poultry farming, poultry products marketing, and market linkage, budget development and business planning, and use of resources in modern poultry farming to maximise profits to start businesses and achieve self-reliance.

This effort aligns with the "Hand-in-Hand’ initiative, aiming to improve food system capacities and reduce poverty by empowering youth and women to become successful entrepreneurs. Each modern farm is equipped with materials and support for sustainable business ventures.

"We were delighted to join MINAGRI, the governor of the Southern Province, and the mayor of Nyaruguru District to launch these FAO-supported poultry model farms for the youth,” said Coumba Sow, FAO’s Country Representative to Rwanda.

She added, "We are supporting these young people to start their own businesses. A successful business involves making profits, establishing market connections, and ensuring that their production is profitable for themselves, their families, and the country.”

Regarding the beneficiaries, she said, "We have provided model farms to 41 young people. I encourage them to treat this opportunity as a business, generate profits, and recognise the value of what the government has given them. These model farms have the potential to benefit the entire country.”

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In his remarks, Ildephonse Musafiri, Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources, emphasised the ministry’s role in encouraging young people to participate in agriculture. He highlighted the abundant income-generating opportunities in agriculture and its significant impact on reducing unemployment.

He mentioned, "Here in Nyaruguru, we are showcasing a successful example of what is possible. We support young entrepreneurs, particularly those in poultry farming, by providing them with training and additional knowledge to help them become successful business owners. We have provided them with egg-laying chickens, and renovated housing, and they are now reaping the rewards and earning money. This is a pilot phase, and if successful, we hope to expand this initiative nationwide, potentially including providing cows or pigs to further promote agricultural pursuits.’

Minister Musafiri urged the youth not to take these opportunities for granted, noting that previous generations did not have similar support. He stressed the importance of self-motivation and emphasised the need to use the available resources effectively, even as more support becomes available.

In 2019, members of the ABAHIGIRAKWESIMIHIGO cooperative each contributed Rwf 13,000 to buy a plot of land for Rwf 570,000. Later, with support from FAO, they received 500 chickens, a poultry model house, and training on chicken care. This enabled them to increase their earnings to approximately 19,555,500 after 90 weeks. They also donate for free a tenth of their daily harvest to the local Early Childhood Development Centre (ECD) to address malnutrition and stunting in children and are active in addressing human security issues in their sector, such as building houses and toilets for vulnerable families and assisting school dropouts. Other poultry farmers in their association share their dedication to agriculture and aim to be role models for others.

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"Youths are the driving force behind every country’s progress. When you aim for progress, you start with those young people. Specifically, Rwandan youth have already understood the importance of instilling the mindset of maintaining the country’s achievements and more in the pipeline,” said Emmanuel Murwanashyaka, Mayor of Nyaruguru District.

"To achieve our objectives, we consistently urge them to participate in cooperatives throughout our district. These groups exchange knowledge on savings, training, success stories, and more. Agriculture, particularly poultry and tea farming, plays a crucial role. It’s essential for them to recognise their potential contribution to both their own economic progress and the nation’s development,” he added.