Financial institutions asked to consider youth AgTech entrepreneurs for funding

While there is a growing interest among youth to join the agriculture sector, those supposed to provide financial support continue to shy away from them. 

Reasons shared by most funders is that the agriculture sector, which is pioneered by the youth, is risky. 

Some funders believe youth don’t know how to prepare business plans and that their innovations haven’t yet been tested to assess their effectiveness, among others. 

Such are some of the concerns of youth innovators attending the AYuTe NextGen Conference at Speke Resort Munyonyo in Kampala city. 

The conference organised by Heifer International has brought together youth innovators from different parts of Africa to share their innovations that address challenges in the agriculture sector.

That is why animal husbandry state minister Bright Rwamirama is calling on financiers and development partners to support the youth financially so as to scale up their innovations. 

“Investors and partners please listen to the young people. Investors are hesitant to work with them and yet their ideas are offering solutions in the agriculture sector. Your investment here can generate both social and economic returns,” Rwamirama said.

He explained that as part of their support towards youth agriculture, the Government has set aside shillings 30 million under the Parish Development Model (PDM) programme to be accessed by youth, in addition to formulating policies that support youth employment in the agriculture sector, among others.

Dr. Bright Rwamirama State Minister for Agriculture Industry and Fisheries. (Credit: Wilfred Sanya)

Rwamirama made the remarks on Tuesday, June 18, 2025, while officiating at the AYuTe Next Gen Conference. 

He also advised the young agriculture innovators to take advantage of the conducive investment climate in Uganda to promote their innovations, and that engaging in agriculture is rewarding.

Addressing the youth and stakeholders at the event, Heifer International president and chief Surita Sandosham said through the AYuTe initiative, they provide seed capital alongside mentorship, business development support and access to networks that can help innovations further grow their innovations.

She, however, called for patient capital, which is long-term and risk-free to enable young innovators to scale up their Agtech innovations that are solving challenges such as post-harvest management, access to finance, climate change, and access to markets, among others.

“To our partners, AgTech generation does not need our permission. They need our partnership. They need patient capital. They need policies that are enabling. They need platforms that amplify their voices and connect them to markets,” Sandosham said.

 She also called for the removal of barriers that block innovation from scaling by not making youth-led AgTech the exception, but the norm.

On his part William Matovu, the Country Director of Heifer International explained that the conference is a catalyst where youth leadership meets strategic partnership, where African solutions meet global scale to rewrite the future of the food systems for Africa, and for the world.

“In the next three days, you'll hear pitches that re-imagine smallholder farming through digital platforms. You'll witness innovations that turn climate challenges into competitive advantages. You'll see young entrepreneurs who are not just growing crops, but growing solutions that scale across borders,” he added.

Comments from youth AgTech innovators 

Silo Africa chief executive officer Eliud Rugut appealed to financiers to relax their conditions and consider agriculture innovations for the youth for funding opportunities.