Rwanda has secured a €1 million agriculture partnership with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) aimed at boosting youth-led agribusiness and increasing food production through technology-driven solutions, officials said.
The agreement, signed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources, is part of the Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation Phase II program, which promotes scaling up proven agricultural innovations, particularly those that address climate change and improve crop yields.
State Minister for Agriculture Dr. Uwituze Solange said the initiative will help expand irrigation systems, improve soil fertility and increase access to high-quality seeds, while advancing modern farming practices across the country.
“This program will help raise agricultural productivity, support access to improved seeds and strengthen the capacity of agronomists, while also creating job opportunities for young people,” she said.
Uwituze added that the partnership aligns with Rwanda’s long-term goal of increasing agricultural production thirteenfold by 2050.
IITA’s country director in Rwanda, Matieyedou Konlambigue, said the program will focus on equipping young people with the skills and resources needed to engage in agriculture as a profitable business, particularly in the seed sector.
“We want young people to view agriculture as a business and play a central role in increasing food production,” he said.
Konlambigue added that the institute will support youth with technical knowledge, access to financing and market opportunities, including linking them with established seed companies.
The two-year program is expected to support around 150 youth-led agribusinesses, connecting them with larger firms to enhance skills development and market access.
The initiative will be implemented across six African countries — Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania, Mozambique, Malawi and Nigeria and is funded by the African Development Bank in partnership with the German government, with a total budget of €5 million.
