Heifer International has on 11th July, 2024 launched the third edition of the Agriculture, Youth and Technology (AYuTe) Africa Challenge-Uganda.
The transformative initiative that seeks to empower young entrepreneurs to revolutionize the agricultural sector across the African continent, has served as a catalyst for innovation, economic resilience, and agri-tech advancement since its inception in 2021.
To date, Heifer International Uganda’s country program has successfully hosted two editions of the AYuTe Challenge, drawing participation from 443 talented youth from diverse backgrounds across the country.
In 2022, the AYuTe Challenge awarded 4 young innovators, followed by 3 awardees in 2023, including a female entrepreneur.
In total, the seven (7) youth have won UGX120,000,000 (One hundred and twenty million), which has mainly gone towards scaling up of their inventions.
Speaking during the launch, Mr. Mondo Kyateka, commissioner youth and children in the ministry of Gender, Labor and social development who was the guest of honor observed that the innovation competition is timely, citing the growing youth population, unemployment in the country and low technology penetration and utilization in the country.
Mondo Kyateka further noted that from his interaction with several young people, it has come to his attention that it is not true that most of youth do not want to engage in agriculture, but they are just hating the rudimentary way of practicing agriculture.
Mondo noted that what youth want is to be introduced to the innovative ways of practicing agriculture and this could be done by both government and its partners.
“I commend Heifer International and our partners for spearheading this initiative. Your efforts are pivotal in equipping our youth with the skills, knowledge, and resources they need to succeed. The focus on agriculture and digital innovation is particularly commendable, as it aligns with our national development goals and the broader agenda of food security and economic growth enshrined in the National Development Plan III”.
Adding, “The Government of Uganda cannot thank Heifer International enough for its tireless support towards Uganda’s agriculture industry since this initiative not only celebrates entrepreneurship but also promotes sustainable agricultural practices through ICT that benefit communities and empower future leaders.
Samantha Ainembabazi, the second runner-up in 2023 utilized the funds to procure more inputs for her Freza Nanotech innovation which extends fruit shelf life to 30 days.
In her remarks at the launch event, Samantha highlighted how her participation in AYuTe has impacted her;
“I am thrilled to see the return of the AYuTe Africa Challenge Season 3. This competition has provided me with a valuable opportunity to establish myself in a male-dominated industry. With my prize, I was able to scale my business by purchasing essential raw materials and hiring additional staff. In addition, Heifer International gave me more exposure through seconding me to participate in the #AYuTeNextGen regional competition held in Kigali early this year. In this competition, I won an additional USD 20,000 on top of networking opportunities with other young innovators and delegates. I strongly encourage all eligible participants to apply. In this competition, there are no losers as the opportunity exposes you to a lot more”. She said.
Mr. William Matovu, the Heifer Uganda Country Director observed the staggering youth un-employment rate (41%, UBOS 2021) in the country; and yet youth have the energy and innovative acumen to contribute to the country’s development.
“This competition has showcased the innovative spirit of Uganda’s youth, highlighting their role in driving agricultural transformation. The AYuTe Africa Challenge will continue to demonstrate the potential of technology as an enabler for efficient agricultural value chain functioning; while fostering sustainable solutions for smallholder farmers,” said William.
The application process for the third edition is now open until July 25, 2024. Applicants must be Uganda-based innovators between the ages of 18 and 35 years, with start-up operations working with smallholder farmers, among other requirements.
Top finalists will undergo a comprehensive incubation period and pitch events, culminating in a Grand Finale Gala in September 2024, where winners will share a total of UGX 112 million in awards and other development support.
This year’s edition promises more exciting opportunities; including a special category reserved for female innovators. This is part of the efforts to promote women participation in the initiative. In addition, contestants will also undergo rigorous incubation through partnerships with various innovation hubs to continue naturing their businesses.
“We are hopeful that these added initiatives will amplify Heifer’s commitment to agricultural excellence while providing further visibility to the competition’s impact.
Heifer International remains committed to supporting past awardees through mentorship, business development services, and funding to scale their enterprises,” said Mr. Matovu.
The impact of these efforts is evident, with over UGX 120 million awarded to date and innovations positively impacting 4,915 smallholder farmers, including 3,165 women, through training, product sales, and technology demonstrations.
The AYuTe Africa Challenge, Uganda Edition call for participation will run from July 11, 2024 to July 25, 2024.
Eligibility Criteria
• The Competition is open to Ugandans aged 18 – 35 years who are innovators and owners of start-ups OR have been operating a business for the past three years
• They must have the potential to translate innovations into meaningful impact for small holder farmers across the country
• They must show that there is demand among smallholder farmers for what is being provided and that it’s affordable
• The innovation must be a truly innovative product or service with potential for growth, viable market and not merely duplicating something that exists in many
other markets.
How to Participate
• Record a video introducing yourself and demonstrating how the proposed innovation works; what problem it seeks to solve; how it can potentially translate into meaningful impact for smallholder farmers across the country and how much money you would need to bring it to life.
• The video submitted must not be longer than 2 minutes. It must have clear audio and must be shared in MP4 Format.
• Participants must submit their videos to the competition portal https://ayute.africa/uganda.
