NAMUHORANYE INNOCENT MANAGING DIRECTOR KIGALI-RWANDA YOUTH IN AGRICULTURE (YIA) WORKSHOP NAMUHORANYE INNOCENT MANAGING DIRECTOR KIGALI-RWANDA 4 November 2013

COMPANY PROFILE Agriseeds Ltd is a private company with the aim of supporting and facilitating the Agricultural sector in Rwanda in availing and trading the high yielding and quality seeds to the small scale farmers, especially in rural area Partnering with Klein Karoo Seeds Marketing from South Africa Exploring opportunities on export market (Netherlands) Business is a sole proprietorship

Seed distribution chat Seed Supplier (Producers) SA Warehouse AGRISEEDS Ltd –Rwanda (Innocent Namuhoranye-Owner) Input dealers Agents Government Institutions and Agencies Farmers/coops NGOs Input retailers Farmers/coops Farmers/Coops Farmers/coops Farmers/Coop

IMPACT Access of high quality seeds to boost production Increased market opportunities (farmers graduate from subsistence agriculture to market-driven sector) Affordable price: Agriseeds will provide seeds in all quantities e.g. 10 gr, 50 gr,100gr, 500 gr and 1kg to make sure even small scale farmers can afford high quality seeds

KEY CHALLENGES AND STRATEGIES TO OVERCOME THEM Convincing farmers to adopt new technology (e.g new seed variety) Agriseeds provides demonstrations for farmers to acquire practical skills and compare results Market penetration Keep relationship with our clients ,also chat seed distribution found Lack of knowledge among farmers (partly due to lack of trained human resources in seeds industry) We train agents on productivity and other related issues on seeds We train agents to train farmers and develop farms for demonstration purpose Access to finance (both for farmers and seeds’ traders) Partnering with foreign companies and Rwandan people Lack of cleaning facilities, logistics, treatment grading and packing material, etc Train also store managers on storage conditions, seed hygiene, quality control, etc Hire (from MINAGRI) or establish the Seed Treatment Plant Partnering with foreign company

HOW TO ATTRACT MORE YOUTH INTO THE SEEDS INDUSTRY Sharing my testimonials and successful stories Youth agronomist training of agents to know product features well Finance and technical support to train the youth farmers, doing demonstration, trials, tests new varieties in country Partner with youths in availing the small input shops Develop seed trials (Farm Field Schools) Youth day in which AGRISEEDS LTD visits the agriculture youth cooperatives Organize dinner or lunch youths for sharing ideas and testimonials purpose

MY NEXT STEP: BEING EXPORTER

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