INES-Ruhengeri’s Post

Celebrating Uganda's Independence: Transforming Africa's Agriculture through Innovation. As Uganda marks its 62nd Independence Day, I reflect on our nation's progress and the role agriculture plays in shaping our future. As an AgriTech entrepreneur, I'm passionate about harnessing innovation to transform Africa's agriculture. My journey is driven by three key pillars: 1. Sustainable Farming: Conserving resources, promoting eco-friendly practices. 2. Food Security: Ensuring access to nutritious food for all Africans. 3. Economic Growth: Empowering farmers, creating jobs, and stimulating local economies. With 60% of the world's arable land, Africa has the potential to become a global breadbasket. However, challenges persist: 1. Climate change 2. Limited market access 3. Inefficient value chains. Through AgriTech, we can: 1. Enhance crop yields 2. Improve market access 3. Streamline value chains 4. Promote sustainable practices. Let's work together to transform Africa's agriculture and create a brighter future for our continent. Share your thoughts on AgriTech's potential in Africa. Connect with me for potential collaborations. #UgandaIndependenceDay #AgriTech #SustainableAgriculture #FoodSecurity #EconomicGrowth #Africa

Exciting news. Tomorrow, we're unveiling impactful updates from the Hinga Wunguke Activity. Transforming Agriculture in Rwanda: Through the Feed the Future #Rwanda Hinga Wunguke Activity, we're tackling critical challenges like limited access to finance, low productivity, and food insecurity. Over five years, this $28M initiative is boosting agricultural growth by: 🔹 Improving access to tailored financial products for farmers & agro-SMEs 🔹 Strengthening financial literacy for sustainable resource management 🔹 Mobilizing $20M+ in agriculture-related financing 🔹 Driving $5M investments in climate change resilience & food security Active in 13 districts, we're collaborating with farmers, financial institutions, and private-sector partners to modernize agriculture, improve nutrition, and unlock economic potential for rural households. Together, we’re building a brighter, more food-secure Rwanda. Stay tuned as we share more updates tomorrow. #AgriUpdateRw #FoodSecurity

I recently participated in ongoing discussions around the Food Systems Resilience Project (FSRP) during a workshop focused on exploring #innovative strategies to ensure food security and resilience in Kenya. These conversations are a crucial part of the preparations for the upcoming #Africa Food Systems #Forum in Kigali, Rwanda, this September. As part of these efforts, we also proposed the launch of a #Youth #Entrepreneurship Initiative - a bold step towards industrializing #agriculture, boosting food security, and creating employment opportunities across the continent. This initiative is particularly exciting because it focuses on accelerating #agri-food systems opportunities for the youth, encouraging them to see farming as a profitable and #sustainable business. Under the guidance of the Kenya Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development and aligned with the Bottom Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), we’re not only capable of building a more resilient #foodsystem but also empowering the next generation to lead in this vital sector. Excited to be part of these transformative efforts and looking forward to the positive impact across Kenya and beyond. KYEOP Youth Kenya #FoodSystems #Innovation #Resilience #Kenya #AFSForum24 #AGRAImpact

December 10, 2024, Cultivating New Frontiers in Agriculture (Cultivating New Frontiers in Agriculture (CNFA)), on behalf of the USAID-funded Feed the Future Rwanda Hinga Wunguke Activity, announced four transformative partnerships to improve inclusive financing for 500,000 farmers, prioritizing women, youth, and people with disabilities (PWDs). Highlights of the new partnerships:   BK Techouse and Exuus: BKTecHouse and Exuus, co-investing about RwF 1.18 billion, will scale up digital financial solutions for targeted farmers and agribusinesses. Rugori Investment Network (RIN) and RYAF: Supporting women, youth, and PWD-led businesses with tailored business development services. The project will also facilitate loans of RWF 5,208,000,000 (USD 4 million) in the next 3 years. About Feed the Future Rwanda Hinga Unduke Activity The USAID-funded $29.7 million Hinga Wunguke initiative aims to increase incomes and improve nutritional outcomes by sustainably enhancing agricultural productivity and strengthening markets for high-value and nutritious agricultural products. The five-year activity (2023–2028) is implemented in13 districts of Rwanda by Cultivating New Frontiers in Agriculture and Market Share Associates. ✍️: Farm & Environment Magazine(FEM) #YouthInclusion #DigitalInclusion #DigitalFinancing #FEMAgEnv

Ag Ploutos and GIZ Uganda are joining forces in Uganda to equip smallholder farmers and cooperatives with climate-smart solutions for a more resilient future. Our partnership aims to: 1️⃣ Training village agents: Empowering local experts to disseminate climate-smart technologies for maize and cattle production. 2️⃣ Disseminating climate-smart innovations: Introducing sustainable practices to enhance resilience and productivity. 3️⃣ Facilitating access to climate-smart innovations: Connecting farmers with resources and markets to boost incomes. 4️⃣ Securing off-taker agreements: Ensuring reliable market access for both cattle and crop farmers. 5️⃣ Promoting value-added byproducts: Maximizing the potential of maize and cattle value chains. 6️⃣ Incubating youth and women-led businesses: Fostering entrepreneurship and job creation in rural communities. 7️⃣ Creating rural employment: Generating 1200 jobs along the agricultural value chain. We believe that by harnessing the power of climate-smart agriculture, we can build a more sustainable and prosperous future for Uganda's agricultural sector. This partnership represents a significant step forward in our mission to empower farmers and foster economic growth. #AgPloutos #GIZ #Uganda #ClimateSmartAgriculture #SmallholderFarmers #Sustainability #Resilience #Innovation #Partnership #Agriculture #Empowerment #RuralDevelopment #JobCreation #ValueChains #Maize #Cattle #AgroPastoralism #YouthEmpowerment #WomenEmpowerment #SustainableDevelopmentGoals

🌾 Forging partnerships and strengthening collaboration towards sustainable agricultural transformation in Kenya 🌾   During our breakfast meeting today, the GIZ Sustainable Agricultural Systems and Policies project #AgSys #GIZKenya and the Kenyan Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development #MoALD alongside core implementing partners, we discussed the cooperation areas that we have shaped over the last months, reflected on our shared vision, and collaborative efforts.   We agree: 🌱 It is not ABOUT Women & Youth but WITH Women & Youth. We will contribute to make them part of policy dialogues and transformation processes. 🌱Repurposing of public support: We are committed to support the development of an inclusive input support framework that also caters for long-term sustainability. 🌱The private sector is a major agent of change. We will support effective and well-informed public-private dialogues where pertinent topics can be discussed.   We #AgSysKenya & Partners are ready for the AgSys Regional Forum taking place from 24-26 June 2024 in Nairobi. We welcome the AgSys Delegations from Nigeria, Zambia, Cameroon, Burkina Faso, Togo, Mali, Madagascar, India and Germany to Kenya and are looking forward to three days full of exchange. 👉 #SustainableAgriculture #Kenya #AgSysKenya #GIZKenya International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI); Kenya National Farmers' Federation (KENAFF); Agriculture Sector Network (ASNET); AMKA Milka Wahu; TMG Research gGmbH - TMG Think Tank for Sustainability; Kenya Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development; Rootooba Limited

In full support of collaborations putting women and youth at the centre of sustainable food systems transformation

#Partnerships and #collaborations. These form part of key #tenets for sustainable transformation. Once we understand the magnitude of the transformation we desire, we'll understand that our joint vision and collective efforts will help shape this journey, overcome hurdles, and determine our success. #conscious #purpose #persistent #committment #AgSys

🌍 Unlocking Uganda’s agricultural potential. AGL Uganda participated in the 5th Bi-annual Private Sector CEO Retreat in Gulu City. This event brought together key leaders to discuss transforming Northern Uganda into a commercialized production and logistical hub for exports. 🌾 Winnie Aketch, representing AGL, emphasized the crucial role of modern logistics in enhancing agricultural productivity, reducing post-harvest losses, and ensuring access to both local and global markets. Through its extensive logistics network and infrastructure development, AGL is making a positive impact by improving market access for farmers, boosting rural economies, and driving sustainable growth across Uganda’s agricultural value chain. 🚛 #AGL #Agriculture #Logistics #SupplyChain #Uganda #AfricaTransformation

Did you know; - Digital tools can increase productivity by up to 70% (FAO). - Only 30% of rural areas in developing countries have internet access (World Bank). - 70% of Africa’s agricultural workforce consists of smallholder farmers (IFAD). - Mobile penetration in Sub-Saharan Africa is expected to reach 50% by 2025 (GSMA). This week I got to host and moderate The Centre for African Leaders in Agriculture (CALA)'s Alumni Q2 event, and it was quite inspiring to see some of the digital transformation initiatives in Rwanda, Ghana Worlali Senyo Nixon Gecheo, South Africa and Nigeria Oshone Anavhe. Where some see a problem, others see possibility. Some governments are investing in rural internet infrastructure and digital tool subsidies, like Kenya’s DigiFarm platform. On the private sector side, companies like farmbetter, are reaching smallholder farmers with affordable digital tools and training across Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, Uganda, and Burkina Faso. (Well done Luise Indimuli and the team there.) By addressing challenges and leveraging digital transformation, Africa can enhance agricultural productivity and sustainability, ensuring food security and empowering smallholder farmers. #DigitalAgriculture #Agritech #SustainableFarming #FoodSecurity #InnovationInAgriculture #Farmbetter Brenda Wandera Fiona Maina Samson Odongo Melissa Mahoroyanje, MOD