By Mushabe Bobwilkens
In Bugesera, a drought-prone district in eastern Rwanda, farming families have long battled poor soils and unpredictable harvests. Refusing to accept decline as their future, twelve young friends formed the Abishyizehamwe Youth Association in 2022. Drawing on both ancestral farming knowledge and modern digital tools, they developed a simple, community-based soil testing service that guides farmers on how to restore and manage their land. Their work is not only improving yields but also renewing pride in farming and showing how rural youth can lead Africa’s agricultural transformation. This interview is with two members of Abishyizehamwe, Jean and Clarisse
Can you tell me a bit about yourselves and how the Abishyizehamwe Youth Association was formed?
Jean: We are young men and women from Bugesera, mostly in our twenties, born into farming families. We grew up watching our parents struggle with declining harvests and expensive fertilizers. In 2022, twelve of us, who were friends and neighbors, decided to unite and create solutions. That’s how Abishyizehamwe, which translates to “those who are united,” was born.
Clarisse: Our parents and grandparents have always depended on agriculture for survival, and we didn’t want to leave farming behind. We wanted to use our energy, creativity, and basic tech skills to restore dignity to our parents’ work and give farmers hope.
What inspired you to start this soil testing initiative? Was there a specific moment or problem that motivated the idea?
Jean: A memory I can’t forget is when my father harvested sorghum from a hectare, and it barely lasted two months. He stared at the sacks in disbelief and silence, which pushed me to look for solutions in technology. Clarisse: For me, it was seeing mothers borrow sugar or children missing school when crops failed. And when an agronomist told us, “The problem is not your seed, it is your soil,” everything clicked. We realized we were planting blindly.
How does your soil testing system work?
Jean: Our soil testing system was designed to be simple, accessible; we wanted farmers with little digital experience to be able to use it without extra costs or travel. So, farmers bring samples to a community collection point. We guide them on how to take proper samples for accurate results. We then log each sample with photos, geo-tags, and codes. The data is uploaded to a cloud platform where agronomic models analyze it, and within 48 hours, farmers get personalized SMS in Kinyarwanda with a diagnosis for what’s wrong and instructions on how to solve the problem.
Clarisse: Farmers often tell us, “It feels like a doctor for my land.”
How did you acquire the technical skills?
Jean: I taught myself coding on a second-hand laptop I got from a neighbor and also learnt from YouTube. A lot of it was trial and error. At first, there were times when we sent out the wrong SMS or misread the sample, but each mistake taught us.
Clarisse: Every line of code felt like planting a seed. When the first farmer got the right advice and saw results, it was like watching that seed grow. That joy kept us going, pushing us.
How has the community responded?
Clarisse: At first, people doubted us, “Can these youth really help?” But once they received the first SMS and saw improved harvests, their trust in us grew. Farmers began bringing neighbors and even covering airtime costs for the SMS
Jean: The pride is real. Elders now ask us to teach their children, too, so that the initiative can evolve. That’s when we knew this was bigger than us; it’s a community movement.
What has been the most rewarding moment?
Jean: The moment an elder told us, “You have given us back confidence in farming.” That meant everything. Clarisse: For me, it was Mama Jeanne, a widow, who doubled her harvest after following our advice. She said, “For the first time, I could pay school fees and buy food without borrowing.” That’s when I felt our work was changing lives.
How do you see the role of youth and technology in agriculture?
Jean: Youth are not just helpers, they are innovators. With simple tools like SMS and cloud data, we can bridge gaps that have held farmers back for years.
Clarisse: We want youth across Africa to see that innovation doesn’t need to come from cities or labs. It can start in your village, with your neighbors, solving the problems you live with every day.
What are your short- and long-term goals?
Clarisse: In the short term, we want every cooperative in Bugesera to know their soil needs and plan better. Women and youth will lead that process.
Jean: Long term, we dream of scaling this model across Rwanda and Africa, proving that youth can lead agricultural transformation. One day, every village could have its own youth-led soil advisory service.
How do you balance tradition and technology in your work?
Jean: We respect indigenous knowledge. Farmers already know when the rains are late or the soils are tired. We combine that wisdom with technology to give clearer direction.
Clarisse: When a grandmother says, “This land used to give us beans but now refuses,” we test and show her why. It’s about linking her memory with scientific proof.
What challenges have you faced in running this project?
Clarisse: Funding has been the biggest. Buying testing kits, paying for data, and maintaining equipment isn’t easy. Sometimes we contribute from our small farming earnings.
Jean: Another challenge is trust. Some farmers still ask, “How can a phone know my soil?” It takes patience, demonstrations, and consistent results to win them over.
How do you involve women and girls in your association?
Jean: From the start, women were central. Half of our founding members are young women. They lead farmer mobilization and training.
Clarisse: Women trust women. When I explain soil health to mothers, they open up. They tell me their worries about feeding families. That connection is powerful.
What about people with disabilities? Are they included?
Clarisse: Yes, inclusion matters to us. One of our members is hearing-impaired, and he works with us on data collection. Farmers respect him deeply.
Jean: We adapt methods, for example, using visuals and simple icons in training. We want everyone to feel that they belong in agriculture’s future.
How do you collaborate with other actors, government, NGOs, or private companies?
Jean: We link with the Rwanda Agriculture Board for technical validation. They guide us so our results align with national standards.
Clarisse: We’ve received training support from One Acre Fund Rwanda and Ripple Effect, and mentorship through RYAF. On the private side, MTN Rwanda has supported affordable SMS delivery. Each partner adds fertilizer to our growth.
What kind of impact have you seen so far?
Clarisse: Farmers who followed our advice report 20–30% better yields. For example, bean harvests doubled in one cooperative after applying lime to acidic soils.
Jean: Beyond numbers, the impact is dignity. Farmers tell us, “Now we farm with confidence, not fear.” That’s priceless.
How do you measure success?
Jean: We track the number of soil samples, SMS sent, and yield improvements reported. Data speaks. Clarisse: But we also measure stories of the widow who paid school fees, the youth who stayed in farming instead of leaving for the city. That’s our true success.
What motivates you to keep going despite challenges?
Clarisse: Hope. Every time a farmer smiles at better harvests, I know our struggles are worth it.
Jean: For me, it’s my responsibility. If we don’t act, who will? This is our home, our soil, our future.
How do you see your project contributing to climate resilience?
Jean: Healthy soils hold water better, resist erosion, and support crops in unpredictable rains. That’s resilience.
Clarisse: By guiding farmers to use organic compost and reduce over-fertilization, we also cut emissions. Small actions add up against climate change.
What message do you have for other youth in Africa?
Clarisse: Don’t wait for someone else to bring solutions. Start with what you know and where you are. Even a small step can inspire a movement. We want youth to see possibilities, not despair.
Jean: That we are not just dreamers, we are doers, building Africa’s future with soil, phones, and determination. Believe in the power of unity. When we come together, like our name says, we can turn challenges into opportunities.