Heifer International has awarded top young innovators in agriculture, youth, and technology through the AYUTE Africa Season 3 challenge, an initiative aimed at nurturing the talents of young people to address pressing challenges faced by smallholder farmers in Africa.
William Matovu, Country Director at Heifer International-Uganda, emphasized the organization’s commitment to tapping into the innovative potential of young people across Africa. He highlighted the significant role that young innovators can play in solving agricultural problems. “Africa has the most fertile soils, with statistics indicating that at least 60 percent of the globe’s uncultivated arable land is in Africa. Yet, it is the same continent that is spending over 1 billion US dollars to import food,” he noted.
During the gala event for AYUTE Africa Season 3, more than UGX 100 million was awarded to the top 10 innovators with the most outstanding technologies designed to help local farmers access affordable solutions to enhance their agricultural productivity.
Matovu pointed out that agriculture in Africa has vast potential but is underutilized. “We spend close to 150 million USD to import vegetable oil while many of our young people are going abroad to take on odd jobs,” he remarked. Through initiatives like the AYUTE Africa challenge, Heifer International aims to reverse this trend by promoting local solutions to agricultural challenges.
In the three years since its inception in 2021, the AYUTE Africa challenge has identified over 500 innovations, many of which are already being introduced to the market. “We believe there is a future around technology in agriculture, which will ride on the rails we have built,” Matovu added, signaling the organization’s long-term commitment to fostering agricultural innovation in Africa.
This year’s grand prize of UGX 50 million was awarded to Assumpta Nakalema, a young innovator from AgroVision Uganda, for her solar-powered egg incubator. Nakalema’s innovation is designed to support smallholder farmers by providing a solution for hatching between 100 and 300 eggs at a time, helping farmers improve productivity and increase profits. “With this project, farmers are going to be helped to commercialize their poultry businesses,” Nakalema explained.
The incubator, equipped with advanced technology, maintains the ideal temperature and humidity necessary for egg development. It features a built-in fan to distribute heat evenly and an AI-powered remote monitoring system that sends real-time sensor data to a cloud server for analysis. A door monitoring system also ensures that the incubation process remains uninterrupted by triggering an alarm if the door is accidentally opened.
Nakalema expressed her gratitude for the funding, stating, “I’m going to use this money to scale up the incubator from a prototype to a marketable product that smallholder farmers can afford.” The solar incubator is poised to transform the poultry industry by making sustainable and affordable hatching technology accessible to farmers.
Angel Uwera, the first runner-up, won UGX 25 million for her Mak Agrometer innovation. This tool informs farmers of the nutrient concentration in their soil, allowing them to optimize their planting and fertilization strategies. The device, equipped with an NPK sensor, enables farmers to collect soil samples and get real-time data on soil health. “Farmers can collect different soil samples from their gardens and insert the sensor to see the exact nutrient levels,” Uwera explained, highlighting how this innovation can enhance crop yields and improve food security.
Other notable innovators recognized during the awards included Olivia Nakiwanuka, the second runner-up, for her Axis Solar innovation, and Stellah Nakirijja, who developed a solar-powered tick detector. Patricia Ninsiima also received recognition for her contributions to agricultural technology.
Prof. Mukadasi Buyinza, representing Makerere University’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, commended Heifer International for providing young innovators with a platform to bring their ideas to life. He pledged Makerere’s continued support for collaborative research and innovation. “For a long time, we have done research, but we have been leaving it on the table. This step will take us far,” Prof. Buyinza remarked.
Ronald Ssegawa Jjagenda, Undersecretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, represented the State Minister for Animal Industry, Hon. Bright Rwamirama Kanyontore, as the event’s Chief Guest. He emphasized the importance of agricultural technology in addressing the sector’s profound challenges. “Agriculture is facing deep challenges, but technologies like these will offer practical solutions,” he said. Jjagenda also stressed the government’s commitment to supporting young people through programs such as the Parish Development Model and Emyooga, aimed at transforming youth livelihoods through innovation.
In closing, Jjagenda highlighted the need to shift focus from traditional agricultural practices to innovative solutions that can attract more youth to the sector. “We must identify areas within the agriculture value chain where we can engage youth with modern tools, including smartphones, to help them succeed,” he concluded.
The AYUTE Africa challenge is a testament to Heifer International’s dedication to empowering young Africans and revolutionizing agriculture through innovation. With support from organizations like Heifer, young agri-tech innovators are poised to lead Africa toward a more prosperous and sustainable future in agriculture.