Mutsinzi Among 17 Youth Chosen to Represent Rwanda at Africa Food Systems Summit 2025
In the rolling farmlands of Nyagatare District in Eastern Rwanda, where agriculture is both a livelihood and a legacy, a young farmer is reshaping the narrative of rural youth empowerment.
At just 30 years old, Onesphore Mutsinzi has risen from the challenges of subsistence poultry farming to become a thriving agripreneur and now, a national delegate to the Africa Food Systems Summit 2025 in Senegal.
Mutsinzi's story is more than a personal transformation. It represents what is possible when young Africans are equipped with the right tools, skills, and platforms to lead change. Supported by the Youth Entrepreneurship for the Future of Food and Agriculture (YEFFA) program a five-year initiative powered by AGRA and the Mastercard Foundation, and implemented by ABUSOL Ltd his journey reflects the broader movement toward African-led solutions for food system transformation.
Mutsinzi shares, recalling the pivotal moment in August 2024 when he joined the program.
He said: “Since joining the YEFFA Program, I’ve learned to manage my farm like a business. This journey didn’t just change my farm it changed my life,”
When he began his poultry business, Mutsinzi was raising 450 Sasso birds with limited technical knowledge. Poor housing, inadequate nutrition, frequent disease outbreaks, and a lack of business systems made profitability elusive.
The YEFFA Program offered exactly what he needed hands-on training in feed management, poultry housing, disease prevention, record-keeping, and entrepreneurship. Within months, Mutsinzi completely transformed his farm, expanded his flock from 450 to over 2,000 birds, Reduced mortality from 20% to under 5%, Increased egg production significantly and Introduced digital record-keeping and biosecurity protocols
Today, Mutsinzi operates on a rotational model, raising 1,000 chicks in one month and 2,000 the next. He purchases each chick at 1,100 Rwandan francs, raises them at 600 francs, and sells them at 2,200 francs yielding consistent, healthy profit margins.
“I want to do more than just farm. I want to become a local training hub a place where youth can learn agribusiness the right way, without the painful mistakes I made early on,” he says.
Onesphore Mutsinzi has risen from the challenges of subsistence poultry farming to become a thriving agripreneur and now
In September, Mutsinzi will join 16 other young Rwandan agripreneurs as national delegates to the Africa Food Systems Summit 2025 in Senegal a high-level continental platform convening policymakers, innovators, researchers, and young leaders to shape Africa’s agricultural future.
“Being chosen to attend this summit is an honor. I’m eager to connect with fellow changemakers, explore innovations in livestock, and seek partners to support my dream of launching a local feed plant,” he shares.
He plans to return from the summit with new knowledge and collaborations to further benefit his farm and community from sourcing higher-quality chicks to reducing feed costs through local production.
Mutsinzi’s achievements underscore the critical role AGRA plays in elevating youth as active architects of Africa’s food systems. By backing programs like YEFFA, AGRA has provided thousands of young people with technical training, market access, mentorship, and exposure to national and global platforms such as the Africa Food Systems Summit.
“AGRA has shown us that the solutions to our food challenges are already within us. What we need is the confidence, support, and opportunity to act,” Mutsinzi says.
Mutsinzi will join 16 other young Rwandan agripreneurs as national delegates to the Africa Food Systems Summit 2025 in Senegal
As the continent pushes for inclusive, resilient, and sustainable food systems, smallholder youth farmers are at the center of the solution. With over 60% of Africa’s population under 25, youth leadership is not only strategic it is essential.
Building on his current success, Mutsinzi is now preparing for the next phase of growth. His vision includes of expanding his flock to 4,000 birds, establishing a local animal feed processing unit and training fellow youth in profitable, sustainable poultry farming
His goals are aligned with Rwanda’s National Transformation Strategy (NST2), which aims to create 250,000 jobs annually from 2024 to 2029. Through his enterprise, Mutsinzi is contributing not just to food production but to job creation, youth empowerment, and local economic development.
“If I can build a successful business in a rural village with limited resources, others can too. We just need the right support and belief in our own potential,” he affirms.
As he prepares to travel to Senegal for the summit, Mutsinzi carries more than his own dreams he carries the hopes of many young Rwandans striving to turn agriculture into a future of prosperity, dignity, and innovation.
His journey is a powerful reminder that when youth are empowered, they don’t just improve their lives they help shape a better future for their communities, countries, and the continent.
