Graduates of the African Food Fellowship in Rwanda have proposed projects aimed at tackling some of the country’s food-system challenges, including declining production, malnutrition, food waste and youth unemployment.
The projects were presented Monday during the launch of the Africa Food Festival at the KCC Roundabout in Kigali, held alongside the Africa Food Systems Forum 2026.
Justine Umutoni, an agricultural researcher at the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, is promoting climate-resilient bean varieties to help farmers cope with changing weather conditions while improving food production and nutrition.
Umutoni said the project is important for Rwanda because beans are widely consumed but production is not keeping pace with demand.
“We eat a lot of beans, but our production is low. Production is declining while consumption is not, and our population is increasing,” she said.
She said promoting varieties that can withstand climate pressures could help increase production and strengthen food security.
Manase Manirakinga, head of agriculture and livestock at Equity Bank, is focusing on the lack of employment opportunities for young people.
He plans to establish a training centre where secondary school graduates can acquire practical skills in modern poultry farming, particularly egg production.
“I want to address the problem of limited jobs for young people in agriculture and livestock, particularly poultry farming,” Manirakinga said.
He said the project would give young people skills to start poultry businesses and generate income.
The initiatives are among projects developed by the fifth cohort of the African Food Fellowship, a 10-month programme that brings together professionals working in different parts of the food system.
Pascal Murasira, executive director of the African Food Fellowship, said the challenges facing the food sector require cooperation among government, businesses, researchers and other players.
“You cannot say that the Government will solve the problem or that a particular organisation will solve it. There is a need for collaboration between different sectors,” Murasira said.
He also called for greater use of technology, improved food processing and efforts to reduce food waste.
Murasira urged young people to view the wider food sector as a source of jobs and business opportunities.
The projects were showcased during the Africa Food Festival, which runs through Sept. 4 and features food exhibitions, cooking demonstrations, live music and other activities.
