Gicumbi: Young tea farmers transforming their lives
Youth in Gicumbi District say they have stopped idling and started thinking about tea farming as a solution to the long-standing issue of unemployment. Even some university graduates who once lamented joblessness have now found a path to self-reliance through agriculture.
They say farming has changed their lives, and they no longer rely on their parents for support. In fact, they now provide employment to over 300 people every farming season.
Some youth in Gicumbi have grouped together and committed themselves to professional tea farming. This has enabled them to rent housing, cover their personal needs, and stop depending on their families.
Gicumbi District has about 12,4259 young people aged between 16 and 30. Many of them were once unemployed but decided to create their own opportunities and work toward self-development.
Nationally, youth participation in agriculture remains low, as many high school and university graduates continue to seek white-collar jobs and dismiss other income-generating careers like farming.
In Gicumbi, rural youth make up 115,713, while 8,546 reside in urban areas. All these young people are increasingly focused on their own development and future prospects.
Among them, 63,158 are female and 61,101 are male all striving to build a better tomorrow.
Some of those who spoke to Green Africa reflected on the advice they recently received from the Minister of Youth, Abdallah Utumatwishima, during his tour of various sectors in Gicumbi.
They said the Minister encouraged them to think bigger and seize the opportunities available,especially by presenting their projects through Youth Connect, a platform where well-structured proposals can attract funding, allowing them to break free from poverty and unemployment.
Minister Abdallah Utumatwishima visited youth-led initiatives in the sectors of Rubaya, Miyove, Cyumba, and Byumba. He praised the progress being made and encouraged the youth to recognize that development doesn’t only come through office jobs business ideas that generate profit can also be supported and scaled.
Thelesphole Basesayose, the Youth Council representative in Gicumbi, said today’s youth no longer believe education alone is their only path to success.
He noted: “Some have shifted their mindset and embraced various trades, including farming, a sector once believed to be only for older generations but they now see its true value.”
According to the 2022 report by the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR), 54.8% of youth in Gicumbi are employed, while 20.7% remain unemployed. This has prompted awareness campaigns to teach them how to become entrepreneurs and start income-generating projects.
Some youth have started growing tea near Ngondore center, cultivating 8 hectares, and offering jobs to over 300 workers per season.
This venture has enabled them to buy rental properties and experience firsthand the benefits of agricultural entrepreneurship, as they have already begun harvesting and earning income.
Emmanuel Nzabonimpa, the Mayor of Gicumbi District, urges young people to change their mindset and take action. He also encourages those facing challenges to approach local authorities for help in refining their business ideas.
He said: “We are seeing promising signs among the youth. Some are now producing modern shoes, others are engaged in agriculture or growing livestock fodder that matures in just a week. We urge them to share knowledge among themselves, and where they encounter challenges, we are ready to support them.”
While youth unemployment is still a concern in many parts of the country, it’s clear that those who are shifting their mindset and embracing new opportunities are beginning to make meaningful progress in transforming their lives.
