What began as a shared passion for Taekwondo has blossomed into a thriving agricultural venture for a group of ambitious youth in Ririma Sector, Bugesera District. The Bugesera Light Taekwondo Club, comprising 31 members (21 female and 10 male), has transitioned from martial arts to agribusiness, forming the Urumuri Group to cultivate chili a high-value crop with great market potential.
Transitioning to agriculture
Out of 50 club members, 31 youth united to establish the Urumuri Group, cultivating chili on six hectares of land. This marked their entry into professional agriculture and a significant step toward financial independence. Impressively, the group continues to balance their passion for Taekwondo with hands-on farming.
Protogene Hakizimana, the group’s representative, shares their journey:
“Initially, we were just Taekwondo players, but we wanted to sustain our team spirit and venture into a business that would empower us. When the Rwanda Youth in Agribusiness Forum (RYAF) introduced us to opportunities in agriculture, we seized the opportunity.”
Bringing together 31 youth into a cohesive and productive group was no easy feat. However, with support from the YEFFA project and their dedicated Taekwondo master who generously offered them land they were able to launch their farming initiative. Protogene explains: “Agriculture is a field where startup costs are manageable. With youthful energy and eagerness to learn, we saw farming as a promising venture. Bugesera’s favorable farming conditions, like nearby rivers and abundant water, were an added advantage.”
The impact of the YEFFA project
The YEFFA project, implemented by a consortium of organizations including YEAN (Youth Engagement in Agriculture Network), played a vital role in the group’s success. Through capacity-building, field coaching, and technical training under the PEAL program, the youth gained critical agronomic skills.
“We learned conservation tillage cultivating without turning the soil. This conserves resources and improves yields. YEFFA taught us professional farming techniques that have significantly enhanced our harvests. These skills will benefit us long after the project ends,” says Protogene.
Protogene also highlights the essential support offered by YEAN’s field officers and PEAL extensionists:
“YEFFA introduced us to many opportunities in agriculture, and the support has not stopped. Our District Coordinator visits regularly, and our PEAL extensionist is with us most of the time. They coach us on farm management fertilizer application, choosing the right chemicals, and identifying and treating plant diseases.”
This ongoing guidance has proven instrumental in increasing productivity and ensuring the sustainability of their agribusiness.
The Power of Unity
Protogene underlines the strength of working together: “An individual farmer can achieve good results, but a group can achieve the best. Youth may lack resources individually, but together, we can pool our efforts and achieve remarkable outcomes. My advice is to unite and select high-profit crops that maximize returns.”
The Urumuri Group is optimistic about the future. They aim to scale up their agribusiness activities and branch into value-added ventures stemming from their chili farming.
“In five years, we see ourselves as successful agripreneurs with diverse businesses originating from Urumuri. We request more study tours to learn from other agribusiness successes and technical support to overcome challenges,” says Protogene.
