On Thursday October 27, 2022, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources, Jean-Claude Musabyimana, officiated the opening in Kigali of the International Young Farmers' Summit organised by the Pan African Farmers Organisation.

The summit was held under the theme: "Youth Leadership in Agricultural Transformation through Innovation".

At the forum, youth from different countries in Africa and other parts of the world were urged to occupy leadership roles in all aspects of agriculture value chains in order to effectively transform it.

“For the African agriculture to experience transformation, youth need to occupy leadership roles in all aspects of its value chains. The sector is in expansion and holds such great promises for the youth wanting to enter it,” Permanent Secretary Musabyimana told the youth delegates.

He added: “The youth need to be equipped with the necessary production resources including land and finance as well as the skills they need to play their much needed roles”.

With approximately 60% of Africa’s population being under the age of 25 while mostly an ageing population remains committed to the agriculture sector, the African youth needs to be mobilised so they can support the continent’s agricultural transformation.

Rwanda’s own current Strategic Plan for Agriculture Transformation (PSTA4) has highlighted youth contribution to agriculture transformation and development as one of the important responses for youth employment and the agriculture sector’s development.

The agriculture sector in Rwanda contributes 26% to the national GDP share, employs 66% of the population, and accounts for 31% export share.

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