Marie Grace Giramahoro

IARD 4960

11/1/2017

Summer 2017 International Experience Reflection Paper

I spent the entire summer in Rwanda where I worked with Agribusiness Focused

Partnership Organization (AGRIFOP) for a period of six weeks. It was such an incredible

experience as it allowed me to have an off campus learning experience relevant to my major. The

first time I left Rwanda was back in August 2016 when I came here in the United States for

studies. I had never been away from my family for such a long time, so it was very exciting to

know that I would be doing my first internship experience in Rwanda, a country I was born and

raised in.

I arrived in Rwanda on the night of June 3, and started my internship a week after. On

my first day of work, my co-workers were very welcoming, and helped me adjust to the office

culture. The CEO presented me with the organization’s profile, and semi-annual reports of the

second phase of the RADD (Rwanda Agro Dealer Development ) project to have an idea of the

kind of projects they have been/ are involved in. AGRIFOP, in a brief summary, is a non-

government organization that was established in 2012 with an objective of improving food

security and livelihoods in developing transitional rural markets in Rwanda, strengthening the

market processes as well as empowering rural Rwandan farmers to create wealth and improve

their livelihoods by transforming subsistence agriculture to market oriented agriculture. In May

2014, AGRIFOP received a grant from Alliance for a Green Revolution for Africa (AGRA) to

implement the second phase of the Rwanda Agro Dealer Development (RADD) project.The first

phase had been implemented by International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC). It was a

three years project, which began in January 2010 and ended in May 2013. It contributed to the

intensification of agriculture in Rwanda by increasing the availability, accessibility and

affordability of quality agro-inputs (seeds, fertilizers and crop protection products, or CPPs)

through an extensive network of agro-dealers. The RADD II began in 2014, and ended in April

2017, and its contribution was to further strengthen and intensify the activities of the agro dealer

networks, focusing particularly in the Southern and Eastern provinces of Rwanda. The project’s

goal was to contribute towards increasing smallholder farmers’ agricultural productivity and

incomes through strengthened agro dealer networks. But who is an agro dealer? An agro dealer is

a business entity that buys and sells agricultural inputs to farmers in order to make profits. Agro

dealers provide advice and market information to farmers, and in addition, they promote new

agricultural technologies, and farm education through on-farm demonstrations. Under RADD II

project, AGRIFOP provided Business Management Trainings (BMTs) to agro dealers. These

BMTs focused on capital and stock management , marketing, selling, pricing and other business

partnership modules. Agro dealers were trained on agriculture input technical knowledge such as

fertilizers’, seeds’, and pesticides’ composition, use, handling, and storing. In addition,

AGRIFOP organized field days where it performed on-farm demonstrations on improved seeds

and fertilizers to show agro dealers as well as farmers the difference between improved seeds

and farmer saved seeds, and the difference of using fertilizers versus not using them at all.

AGRIFOP formed 2 national associations, and 30 agro dealers’ cooperatives ,one in each of the

30 districts in Rwanda, in charge of ensuring that members do not breach business ethics , such

as selling fake seeds, or fertilizers to farmers. Last but not least, AGRIFOP linked agro dealers to

financial institutions. During the trainings, banks and insurance companies were invited to come

and talk to agro dealers. Through this advocacy and partnership, nearly an amount of 362,686

USD was raised in terms of loans to agro dealers.

My job description involved interviewing agro dealers, and writing entries to be posted

on the organization’s website. I developed a questionnaire which I used in my interviews, and

below are examples of some of the questions I asked.

- Tell me a little bit about yourself.

- What kind of services do you deliver?

- What inspired you to become an agro dealer?

- How did you obtain capital to start your business? Was it from personal savings,

friends/parents, or did you take a loan from the bank?

- What part of being an agro dealer do you like?

- How has your life changed after opening up an agro dealer shop?

- How has your business or yourself benefited from the RADD II project?

- What other things do you wish the project had focused on?

- What kind of challenges do you face in this occupation, and how do you

overcome them?

- What message can you give to people aspiring to become agro dealers?

In addition to carrying out interviews, and writing entries, I helped AGRIFOP in various

activities such as the 12th Kigali Agricultural Show. This was a one week agricultural exhibition

in which various companies displayed their work to the public. My duties involved distributing

AGRIFOP’s flyers to people who visited our stand, and recording their contact information. In

addition, my workmates and I explained to people what AGRIFOP does. A lot of people would

ask us the prices of the products that were displayed on our stand, and our job was to explain to

them that AGRIFOP does not sell agricultural inputs, but instead trains those who do.

I really had a fun experience working with AGRIFOP, and I learned a lot things from my

workmates, and other people I encountered. I became more responsible as I had to organize the

interviews myself. I had to call the agro dealers, and convince them to do the interviews. I

became more patient with time since I had to work with individuals that had varying schedules

and also varied in how they handle time. Sometimes I would schedule to meet the agro dealers at

their workplace, and they would make me wait for hours which was very understandable because

customers come first. This entire experience boosted my interest in the agriculture field, and I

can actually see myself pursuing a career in this field.

To conclude, I would very much recommend this experience to other students who like

an on field experience. I would also recommend students to consider doing their internship

experience in Rwanda. Almost 85% of Rwanda’s economy depends on the Agriculture Sector so

there is a lot to offer and be offered. The experience goes both ways and I would say that I gave

and learnt more than I had anticipated. There is a lot happening in Rwanda at the moment, even

outside the agriculture field, but they all work to strengthen the overall well-being of the people

and being a part of that progress is a worthwhile experience.

Pictures AGRIFOP meeting with Agro Dealers, and Representatives from MINAGRI (Ministry of

Agriculture and Animal Resources), AGRA (Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa) and other

organizations at Umubano Hotel.

AGRIFOP stand at the Kigali Agricultural Show.

Fred Muhhuku, representative from Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa; Kankesha

Donathille, Agro Dealer; Safari Jean Bosco, CEO of AGRIFOP, Marie Grace Giramahoro, intern