Young farmers head for Africa to sow seeds of big tree-planting programme

The first 1,000 trees in a major Rwandan tree-planting programme have been sown by a team of young farmers from Scotland.

The Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs (SAYFC) national chair, David Lawrie from Kinross, Jim Montgomerie of the SAYFC International Trust, Catherine Sloan of the Bankfoot club, Lucy Mitchell from West Fife and Katie Burns from Kilmaurs took the first steps in the operation to plant 100,000 trees in the African country.

The team has had meetings with the Rwanda Youth in Agribusiness Forum (RYAF) and the country’s agriculture minister to gain insights into Rwandan farming practices and government funding.

The Scottish members also signed a formal partnership agreement which will outline the future focus on the development of RYAF members through plans for an ongoing exchange programme between RYAF and SAYFC and continued support through regular communications and updates.

The trust was set up 40 years ago to support Scotland’s young farmers in their aim to achieve travel goals and has sent more than 800 young people to destinations across the world .

Mr Montgomerie said: “For a country which has faced such devastation and turmoil, the enthusiasm, energy and optimism of the country’s young people in their demand for governance, prosperity and friendship is astounding. The ambition, perspective and opportunities that Rwanda as a country offers is truly unique.”

The Scottish and Rwandan young farmers join together to help plant 1,000 trees in the African country.