• UNIT1 :AGRIBUSINESS AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

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    Key Unit Competence: To be able to develop agri-business activities 

    and know their contribution towards socio-economic development.

    Introductory activity

    Case study 

    Mahoro is a Teacher training college graduate and an orphan. 
    After her parents died in 2005, she continued with the agricultural 
    work that her parents used to do turning it into family business.
     Mahoro had to assume all the responsibilities looking after her 3 
    siblings/brothers and sisters. 
    She started from one cow, a small farmland using her knowledge
     in entrepreneurship obtained in TTC, and O’level sought advice
     from her immediate relatives. Her relatives advises her to apply
     for a loan in Umurenge Sacco and luckily she was granted a loan 
    after presenting a good business plan, she had in mind expanding 
    and while having a dream of being self-employed.
    Some of her friends discouraged her by advising her to apply 
    for the job and go to teach but she kept deaf ear, at first, 
    she invested almost half of the loan in growing sorghum
     but the season wasn’t favorable and the scorching sun destroyed everything. 
    Mahoro didn’t give up the next season she changed to Irish potatoes 
    and she harvested over 10 tones; since then Mahoro has been able to buy 
    a commercial house in the trading centre, pays taxes to the government 
    and looks after her siblings and they are all university graduates. 
     Mahoro has secured a contract from Nakumatt to supply vegetables 

    and she has a plan to start processing her output to be able to conquer international market.

    Questions 

    a. Identify ways in which Mahoro’s farming activity is different 
    from other farmers as usually done in your locality.
    b. What motivated Mahoro to undertake the above activities? 
    c. Suggest the contribution of agribusiness to the economic development of the country 
    d. In which situation can the government assist the youth to benefit more

     from agribusiness activities? 

    1.1. Meaning of agri-business, Socio-economic development, and agri-business activities

    Activity 1.1

    1. Explain the meaning of agri-business

    2. Using your knowledge acquired in O’ Level, explain the concept of socio-economic development.

    1.1.1. Meaning of agri-business, Socio-economic development

    The term “agri-business” is delivered from two words namely agri

     (which means agriculture) and business. Agriculture

    is the art of cultivating and growing the plants and livestock
    for the survival of an individual or a family. After a long time people 
    doing agriculture just for their survival only, they experienced a lack 
    of monetary income and they started thinking of how they can produce

     more for selling purposes hence Agribusiness.

    Agribusiness therefore is a combination of agriculture and business.
     It is defined as an activity of growing plants, live stocks,… 
    for commercial purposes. This may include the dealing in agrichemicals, 
    breeding, crop production, distribution, farm machinery, processing, 

    and seed supply, as well as marketing and retail sales. 

    Eventually, Agribusiness involves in the production and selling
    of agricultural products to earn a profit. The size of agribusinesses

     differs from micro businesses to large businesses.

    Example of some activities that an entrepreneur can do in agribusiness 

    1. Tree nursery. A tree nursery can be a great investment
     when done in right way
    2. Fish farming. Fish farming is an ideal business idea 
    for investors with available land, and it does not always require a body of water. 
    3. Dual crop farming. 
    4. Dairy farming. 

    5. Herb gardening.

    6. Bee farming. 

    7. Aquaponics....

    8. Micro greens farming.

    9. Urban agriculture. You don’t need a huge space to get into the agriculture business

    10. Vegetable farming

    11. Livestock feed

    12. Fruit growing

    1.1.2. Socio-economic development 
    This is a multi-dimensional process of transformation involving
     accumulated qualitative and quantitative changes in an economy
     leading to better standards of living. Social economic development
     involves cultural changes, social changes, economic transformation,
     education reforms and it is a continuous process covering a long period of time. 
     Socio-economic development involves economic growth which 
    should eventually lead to changes in peoples way of life, attitude, 
    fairer distribution of the country’s wealth and provision of essential needs like food,
     shelter, clothing, higher standards of living, changes in occupational structure 
    towards self-reliance and radical changes in political institutions 
    and administrative structure with the aim of giving greater opportunities
     to the masses in the decision making.
    Agribusiness is one of the drivers of socio-economic development in developing 
     countries and it is on this note that it should be embraced and taken advantage 
     of by government institutions concerned to ensure that optimum out through 
     support and sensitization of the youth. 
     Agribusiness has an impact on practically all the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
     According to the Food Agriculture Organization of United Nations (FAO),
     over 70 per cent of the world’s food needs are met by small farmers.
     Agriculture is the economic sector that employs most people in the world, 
    and the main source of food and income for many people living in poverty.
     Thus, investing in agriculture is not only one of the most effective strategies
     to improve food security and promote sustainability but it is also essential 

    to many countries’ economic development.

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    Practicing agribusiness in Rwanda requires serious analysis.
     As you observe the map above, different agricultural activities
     are conducted in various areas; one needs to scan the environment before investing.
     There are some crops that are grown here but that cannot survive there… 
    (e.g.: Arish Potatoes are grown better in North than in south). 
    Therefore, entrepreneurs should recognize that not every 
     agribusiness venture is viable everywhere unless 
    if you avail some of the key climatic conditions to that surface 
    (E.g.: irrigation practiced in dry areas) though the type of soil will also mater.
    Another point to note is that, though most people believe that agribusiness 
    is best done on extended/ wider surfaces, people should be aware that even
     on a single square meter (1m2 ) one can do agribusiness for instance 

    mushrooms, Legumes, various vegetables, …… and as well, poultry does not require big surfaces.

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    As entrepreneurship student teachers, you have to be very inquisitive and think out of the box.

    a. Livestock/ Animal rearing 

     This type of agri-business involves in the rearing and selling of different types
     of animals for beef, milk and hides and other products. Animals commonly kept include: 

    cattle, sheep, goats, hens, pigs and camels

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    b. Crop production 

     In this type of production crops are produced and sold, they include; 

    coffee, tea, cassava, bananas, cotton, maize, beans, potatoes, tobacco etc.

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    c. Poultry keeping: 

     An entrepreneur in this type of agribusiness concentrates 
    on the keeping and selling of birds for meat, eggs, feathers and skins. 

    The types of bird commonly kept in Rwanda include: chicken, ducks, turkeys, Guinee fowls etc.

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    d. Floriculture. 

     Entrepreneurs in this type of agribusiness grow and sell flowers

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    e. Aquaculture. 

     In this type of agribusiness, entrepreneurs deal in fish farming, crocodile farming etc.

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    f. Horti-culture: 

    Entrepreneurs dealing in this business, grow fruits and vegetables.

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    g. Apiculture: 

     Entrepreneurs in this business involve in bee keeping for honey.

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    Application activity 1.1 

    Study the photos below and answer the question thereafter

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    Question: 

    1. Describe agri-business activities illustrated in the photos above.
    2. Conduct a research on agri-business activities provided 

    in the photo above, analyze them and come up with the ones that suit your school locality.

    1.2 Contribution of agribusiness towards socio-economic development

    Activity 1.2

    In your own understanding, explain different benefits people in your community 
     have enjoyed/benefited or gained from agribusiness activities.
    Agriculture is crucial for Rwanda’s growth and reduction of poverty,
     as the 
    backbone of the economy, 
    it accounts for 39 percent of gross domestic product (GDP),
     80 percent of employment, 

    63 percent of foreign exchange earnings, and 90 percent
     of the country’s food needs.

    The following are some of the contributions of agribusiness
    to the economic 
    development of the country:
    • These businesses provide food for the community
    and people are able to 
    survive on food produced.
    • They provide employment chances to the people in the community 
    and this helps to reduce on unemployment in Rwanda. Agribusiness employs
     the biggest percentage of people 
    • Provide raw materials/inputs to other industries in the country 
    for instance wheat providers supply inputs to Azam industries to produce
    wheat flour 
    etc.
    • They act as sources of income to the population. 
    People get money which they use to buy essential goods thereby increasing
    on their standards of 
    living. 
    • They use bi-products like rubbish, husks etc. 
    which would have otherwise been dangerous to the environment 
    there by conserving it from damage.
    • Provide foreign exchange through the sale of goods on foreign markets 
    • Provide market to other industrial products e.g. fertilizers, farm tools 
    • Act as a source of income to the government in form of taxes 
    • Some areas are developed because of agricultural activities
     and products from such areas e.g. roads are developed.
    However, though agribusiness has a lot of contributions, 
    we should bear in mind that people who practice it meet with/face so many challenges. 

    Therefore, here are some of the challenges faced and the possible solutions:

    Challenges faced in Agribusiness and possible solutions:

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    Application activity 1.2

    1. Think about any 3 agri-business activities in your school locality, and discuss their

     contribution towards socio-economic development of Rwanda.

    1.3 Youth employment in agri-business

    Activity 1.3

    With clear examples, explain the meaning of youth employment.

    1.3.1. Meaning of youth employment 

    There is no legal reference to define the term “youth”. Individuals are either under aged, 
    entirely dependent or adults and thoroughly responsible for what they do. 
     According to the criteria on recognized by the United Nations, the youth 
    comprises of people that are between 15 and 19 years old (adolescents) 

    and those who are aged between 20 and 24 (young adults).

    Youth meaning varies from one society to another and has evolved depending
     on political, economic and socio-cultural contexts. In that case, a young person
     is that person who is considered as such by the society”. In Rwanda, the youth is

     made up of persons aged between 14 and 35. 

    Youth employment is the situation of young people who are looking for jobs,

     are able to find jobs, with the age range being that defined by the United Nations as 15–24 years old.

    Note. Given that a third of Rwandans, about 3.7 million individuals are aged 15 to 34, 

    and youth employment is a critical policy issue. 

    In Rwanda, the land is the main factor of production and is, as a result, 
    due to the fact that plots are becoming smaller and smaller. 
    The land is too small to be rationally used by the population that still 
    employs anachronistic techniques that we know. This is the reason why
     the promotion of youth employment should also target non-agricultural 
    activities both in rural an urban areas such as rural production oriented,
     sewing, leather works, cycle repairing, construction, carpentry, electricity, 
    bricks production, sports equipment production, cyber café, electronic 

     workshop and activities that require greater labor force (Haute Intensité de Main d’Oeuvre/ HIMO),

    A good entrepreneur who invests in area of agriculture should have in mind that,
     Rwanda is in situation that 42 % of the youth aged between 14 and 35 are either 
     unemployed or only work on seasonal small scale agriculture. Excessive needs
     in terms of land find expression in that on family owns less than one hector for 
     its agricultural activities, which is the line below which one cannot meet their 
     nutritional basic needs. To invest in agribusiness, there is a need to think big
     to bring new technologies in agriculture or to think the way of modernizing
     the agriculture or practice agriculture on small space, for example greenhouse 

     farming, market gardening, small space gardening ,etc.

    1.3.2. Benefits of youth employment 

    With youth underemployment rates the highest they have been in 40 years
     it is more important now than ever to embrace and explore the benefits that 

    young people bring 

    • New energy and perspective: Young employees can bring fresh perspective
     and a different way of thinking to your business. Most young workers are eager
     to learn, build their experience and apply their skills in the workforce. 
    This enthusiasm is great for team building, productivity and workplace moral.
     Younger employees will also give you an advantage if you want to target 

    the millennial market as they understand how to reach and communicate with their peers.

    • Workforce development: Young people are used for learning. If they have just come out
     of school or tertiary education, they will still retain a mindset that will help them absorb
     training more readily. As they don’t have a huge amount of previous experience young 
    people are essentially a ‘blank slate.’ This affords/gives their employer an opportunity 

    to develop a workforce of young people specifically trained to meet their organization’s needs. 

    • Affordability: More often than not, wages for a young employee are less expensive 
    than those for an older more experienced worker. There are also options for formal

     trainee and apprenticeships which can be of great benefit to both employers and young people. 

    • Technology advancement & early adoption: Millennial have grown up around technology.
     Their natural affinity for tech and their ability to apply and understand different
     technologies quickly sets them apart from other generations in the workforce.
     Hiring young people has a positive and important impact in driving business forward 

    in the adoption and use of new software and technology 

    • Adaptability & agility: When unexpected circumstances arise, younger
     people are better equipped to respond to sudden change, this can be of great
     benefit in the shifting landscape of the modern-day workplaces where process, 
    technology and priorities are constantly changing. With economic, 
     social and political boundaries in a state of flux, adaptability gives young
     people an advantage in a work environment that is more agile, changeable

     and fast paced than ever before.

    Youth employment builds young people’s self-esteem and self-confidence; 
     • It develops ability of the youth to manage personal and social relationships; 
     • Offering worthwhile and challenging new experiences at work and outside work place; 
     • It provides learning opportunities to enable young people to gain knowledge and develop
     new skills; 
     • Building young people’s capacity to consider risks and consequences and make informed 

    decisions and take responsibility 

    • Helps young people to develop social awareness and a sense of social solidarity form 
    their work environments.
     • It gives young people a voice in decision-making which affect their lives; 
    • Enhances young people’s role as active citizens and preserving culture. 
     • When young people are employed, the crime rate is reduced, idle resources 

     are exploited and generally the living standard is improved.

    Application activity 1.3

    As a TTC graduate, you are requested by your village leader to address citizens
     in your village about the youth employment. 
    Describe the benefits of youth employment towards community development

     that will be entailed in your speech.

    Skills Lab -1-

    1. After learning about different agribusiness activities in your community,
     you are required to think and come up with different modern methods
     that can be applied to improve on productivity of agribusiness products 
     and promote youth employment. 
    2. Scan your home environment or elsewhere, and come up with possible 
     agribusiness activity that you can undertake after school and suggest its role

     to your personal & family economic development.

    End of unit assessment

    Assume you are a TTC leaver and you have been selected as a district youth leader. 
    During a campaign about “Youth involvement in agribusiness activities”,

    you are requested to advise youths on scalable agribusiness activities. 

    Required
    a. Identify any two agribusiness activities that you can do in your home locality. 
    b. Describe the methods that you can use to make it a real profitable business 

    than survival and discuss their contribution towards socio-economic development.


    UNIT 2:ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT (EIA)