US Embassy, St. Lawrence University partner to promote Agribusiness

Dec 23, 2020

During the ten days of training, students were trained through in-class sessions by external experts, engaged in field visits and also tour cultural sites.

AGRIBUSINESS|STUDENTS|INNOVATION

KAMPALA - US Embassy together with St. Lawrence University has embarked on a process to train, mentor and inspire young women and men in agribusiness, leadership and innovation.

The residential training is under the Agribusiness Apprenticeship Program (AgAP) and a cohort-based education program. It is being conducted by Michigan Fellows Agribusiness Initiative (MFAI).

MFAI is an organization formed by the US Department of State Professional Fellows Program alumni at Michigan State University Alliance for African Partnerships.

Some of the apprentices of Cohort two during a field study tour around Kampala.

During the ten days of training, students were trained through in-class sessions by external experts, engaged in field visits and also tour cultural sites.

The trainees also attended virtual sessions, intended to inspire early exposure to agribusiness entrepreneurship and innovation to stir the uptake of agricultural courses at various universities, and prompt innovation and leadership among the young women and men.

Raymond Musiima, the Coordinator of the Programme said each cohort has an intake of ten youth from all the regions in Uganda.

Raymond Musiima, the Coordinator of the Agribusiness Apprenticeship Program addressing trainees during a training session.

"At the end of the AgAP, trainees are awarded certificates of apprenticeship and enroll in a two months' mentorship program to further develop and implement their agribusiness ideas," Musiima said.

The AgAP is supported by the US Department of State Bureau of Education and Cultural exchanges under the auspice of the AAP through the Alumni Engagement Funding in collaboration with partners among them.

It's also supported by the US Mission Kampala, St Lawrence University, Miss Uganda Foundation, Africa 2000 Network Uganda and the Empowerment Initiative for Women and Youth Uganda.

Some of the beneficiaries of the first and second cohorts of Agribusiness Apprenticeship Program.

Some of the innovative ideas designed by the trainees in the 2nd cohort include: the use of vegetable waste and by-products from the farming chain to extend the shelf-life of fresh produce.

Others include production of lemon aftershaves and mosquito repellant cleaning liquid detergents, value addition to mushrooms to produce different product varieties, poultry education programming for women, Earthworm farming, shea trees conversation, and automated rice transplant machine.

Dorothy Ngalombi the US Mission Cultural Affairs Specialist said the inaugural AgAP cohort started in January 2020 at the American Cultural Center in Kampala as the 2nd cohort was held at St Lawrence University.