For each of the themes, the conference seeks to bring together a broad spectrum of researchers from fields of Science, Agriculture, Environment, and Technology.
DAY ONE: Monday September 23rd, 2024
Link: TBC
SESSION 1: 08:00 – 11:30 AM.
Registration, Welcoming Remarks, Defining Theme & Conference Goals, Keynote Address and Panel session
Secretariat
Arrival and Registration
Ms. Esther KUNDA
Moderator
DG, Innovation and Emerging Technologies, Ministry of ICT and Innovation (MINICT)
Moderator/Secretariat
Housekeeping Rules
Dr. Marie Chantal CYULINYANA
Defining Themes & Conference Goals
STI Foresight Analyst, NCST, and Chair of Scientific Organizing Committee
Dr. Eugene Mutimura
Welcoming remarks
Executive Secretary, NCST
Prof. Eugenie KAYITESI
Keynote Address 1
Theme: “Promoting sustainable climate-resilient agriculture practices”
University of Pretoria
Dr. Athanase NDUWUMUREMYI
Panel Discussion 1
Theme:
“Policy integration and effectiveness for climate resilient agriculture to enhance food security and nutrition”
Panelists:
- Prof. Eugenie Kayitesi, University of Pretoria
- Dr. Telesphore Ndabamenye, DG RAB, Rwanda
- Prof. Alfred Bizoza, University of Rwanda
- Ms. Juliet KABERA, DG REMA
Secretariat
Health Break
SESSION 2: 11:20 a.m. – 14:00 p.m.
Official Opening
Ms. Esther KUNDA
Moderator
DG/ MINICT
Official Opening
“Status of STI for climate-resilient agriculture and food transformation”
Guest of Honor: TBD
Secretariat
Group Photo
Dr. Didacienne MUKANYILIGIRA
Exhibitions, Poster presentations, and Networking
Secretariat
Lunch Break
SESSION 3: 14:00 p.m.- 17:30 p.m.
Keynote Address, Parallel sessions in different tracks
Dr. Munyampundu Jean Pierre
Moderator
FDA
Dr. Canisius Kanangire
Key Note Address 2
Theme: “Strategies and practices for improving food processing, storage and access to market”.
Dr. Canisius Kanangire, Executive Director of the African Agriculture Technology Foundation (AATF)
Dr. Esperance Munganyinka
Panel Discussion 2
"Promoting the use of STI for sustainable agriculture and food transformation for economic productivity"
Panelists:
- Dr. Vitubiko Chinoko, Project Manager, AATF, Kenya
- Prof. Hussein Shimelis, Universty of KwaZulu-Natal
- Ramesh Moochikal, CEO, Africa Improved Food, Rwanda
- Dr Solange Uwituze, RAB, Rwanda
Theogene KAYUMBA
Paper Presentations and Q&A
| Parallel session 1 Track 1: Technology for sustainable agriculture and climate prediction Venue: Room AD10:
Paper ID28: "Detecting Potato Leaf Disease using Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) to sustain the Quality of Seeds Multiplication in Rwanda" by Byiringiro Eric
Paper ID4: "Development of a Smart IoT Device based Artificial Intelligence Algorithm for Cereal Pest and Disease Detection in Rwanda" by Nyakuri Jean Pierre
Paper ID44: "Rwandan Smart Farming: An application of Machine Learning Models, NDVI, and an Agricultural Chatbot for Crop Yield and Stress Prediction" by Rukundo Prince
Paper ID38: "Empowering Small Scale Rice Farmers Through Precision Agriculture – An Intelligent Multi-Sensor System for Automated Irrigation and Fertigation in Rice Farms" by Bamurigire Peace |
Dr. Marie Chantal CYULINYANA
Paper Presentations and Q&A
Paper Presentations: Parallel session 1
Track 2: Biotechnology
Venue: Room MH1
Paper ID11: "Enhancing Bovine Embryo Conception rates through animal welfare practices in Rwanda smallholder dairy farms" by Bizimana F.,
Paper ID33: "Development of Banana Xanthomonas wilt Resistance by over Expression of myb86 genes" by Musabyemungu Anastasie,
Paper ID45: "Bioprospecting the Kenyan soda lakes for polyhydroxyalkanoates-producing bacteria: Towards sustainable production of biodegradable plastics" by Muigano Martin,
Paper ID45: "Efficacy of entomopathogenic nematodes compared to local pest management practices against fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda in maize" by Dr. Bancy Wareru
Mr. Kalisa Migambi Felly
Paper Presentations and Q&A
Parallel session 1
Track 3: Policy and socioeconomic implications
Venue: Room AD11
Paper ID17: "Adoption and Use of Certified Seed Potato in Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda. Policy and Investment Priorities" by Aheisibwe Ambrose Rwaheru,
Paper ID27: "A multidimensional analysis of food security and agribusiness in vulnerable communities of Rwanda: Socio-economic and environmental perspectives" by Marie Benoite IBARINDA,
Paper ID47: "The role of agroecological measures in adaptation to climate change: lessons learned from participatory research in Burkina Faso" by Sempore A.W,
Paper ID53: "Effect of credit constraint on crop losses among farmers: Evidence from three selected SSA countries" by Coffie Michael
Dr. Didacienne MUKANYILIGIRA
Health break and exhibition
Secretariat/Protocol
Adjourn
All participants
DAY TWO: Tuesday September 24th, 2024
SESSION 4: 08:00 a.m. – 14:00 p.m.
Keynote addresses, Panel discussion, Networking and exhibition
Secretariat
Arrival and registration
Secretariat/Protocol
Ms. Diana UMULISA
Moderator
Ms. Diana Umulisa
Advisor to the ES/ National Council for Science and Technology
Ms. Diana UMULISA
Day 1 Recap
Prof. Ken Giller
Key Note Address 3
Theme: “Big Data – Small Farms! Matching Expectations and Realities for Resilient Agriculture”
Emeritus Professor, Wageningen University
Dr. Hakizumwami Birali Runesha
Key Note Address 4
Theme: “Harvesting the Future: Applications of AI and Emerging Technologies in Revolutionizing Agriculture”
Associate Vice President for Research Computing; Director, Research Computing Center/ The University of Chicago, IL, US
Ms. Diana UMULISA
Policy Dialogue
Theme:
“Policy and implementation: Application of Disruptive technologies for food systems transformation”
Moderator: Ms. Diana UMULISA
- Hakizumwami Birali Runesha
- Dr Olivier Kamana, Permanent Secretary MINAGRI
- Rugege Chrystal, CEO C4IR Rwanda
- Ron Rosatti, VC RICA
Secretariat
Health Break
Dr. Valens NIYIGENA
Paper presentations
Parallel session 2
Track 1: Technology for sustainable agriculture and climate prediction
Venue: Room AD10
Paper ID16: "Developing an Android Mobile Application for Thermal Stress Management in Cattle" by Elias Nelly Bapfakurera,
Paper ID50: "Development of a Smart Poultry Farm System Using a Real-Time Clock Module" by Ambafi James G,
Paper ID60: "Development of an Artificial Intelligence-Based Ammonia Quality Prediction Model for Poultry Farm Management" by Jack Kufre E.,
Paper ID71: "Hydroponic Yaung Green Grass Cultivation to Reduce Shortage of Food for Animals" by Uwanyirigira Diane
Mr. Hubert KAGERUKA, NIRDA,
Paper presentations
Parallel session 2
Track 4: Mechanization and irrigation / Climate-smart farming techniques and environmental impact
Venue: Room MH1
Paper ID67: "To Assess the Effect of Different Irrigation Methods on Soil Moisture Content and the Yield of Lettuce under Mulching Conditions in Dry Season" by Sonia IKUNDABAYO,
Paper ID68: "Impact of Irrigation Regimes and Amendment Techniques on Phsio-Chemical Properties of the Soil, Yield and Water use Efficiency of Garden Egg" by Marie Claire MUKAMUSONI,
Paper ID62: "Biochar Effect on Soil Physical Properties and Bioavailability of Fe, Cu, and Zn in Two agro ecological zones, Rwanda", by Solange UWINGABIRE,
Paper ID74: "Determinants of Travertine Adoption: Evidence from Smallholder Farmers in Rwanda", by Jean de Dieu NIYOMUGABO
Dr. Athanase NDUWUMUREMYI
Paper presentations
Parallel session 2
Track 5: Genetic Strategies for Improved Crop Yields
Venue: Room AD11
Paper ID2: "Genotype by Environment Interaction and Maize Yield Stability Analysis across major ecologies of Rwanda" by Alphonse NYOMBAYIRE,
Paper ID15: "CRISPR/Cas9 activation and overexpression of MusaVicilin gene for disease resistance in banana" by Macharia SARAH WANJIKU,
Paper ID39: "Genetic Relatedness of in vitro cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) accessions based on quantitative morphological characterization at tissue culture level and DarTseq SNP markers", by Moise Hubert BYIRINGIRO
Lunch Break
Secretariat/ Protocol
SESSION 5: 14:00-17:30 p.m.
Paper and Poster presentation, Exhibition and Networking
Dr. Valens NIYIGENA
RICA, Rwanda
Moderator
Peter Akong MINANG
Key Note Address 5
Theme: “Gender and social equity: Application of technology to food transformation for economic productivity”
Keynote speaker: Petern Akong MINANG
Director for Africa and Global Coordinator, ASB Partnership for the Tropical Forest Margins at CIFOR-ICRAF
Dr. Damien SHUMBUSHA
Paper presentations
Session 3
Track 6: Food processing and production technologies
Track 1: Technology for sustainable agriculture and climate prediction
Venue: Room AD10
Paper ID13: "Processing less acrylamide French fries by application of potato peel extracts in Rwanda" by Theoneste Hagenimana,
Paper ID 42: "The Impact of Push-Pull Technology Adoption on Food Security among Smallholder Cereal Growers", by Jean Baptiste HABYARIMANA,
Paper ID 43: "Design and Implementation of Real-Time Internet of Things (IoT) Enhanced Irrigation System" by Ajiboye J.A,
Paper ID 64: "Production and Analysis of Orange Sweet Potato Flour Enriched with Whey Protein Powder" by Joselyne ABIMANA/Dr. Daniel NSENGUMUREMYI
Poster Presentations
Session 4
Posters Presentation by Authors
14 posters, 5 minutes each
Dr. Didacienne MUKANYILIGIRA
Dialogue with Young Innovators in Agriculture
Parallel session 5
Venue: Room MH1
Summary of 2nd Rwanda STI Conference and Future Prospects
Scientific Committee
Secretariat
Health Break
Secretariat
Dinner and Awarding Ceremony
Poster Presenters
Dr. Anastase NDUWAYEZU
Effect of climate change on potato diseases and yield in Rwanda up to 2050
Mr. Jean D'Amour Hagabimana
Enhancing Food Security and Climate Resilience through Instant Maize Flour Processing Technology
Mr. Jules MIZERO
The effect of different sprinkler irrigation-watering regimes on growth and yield of French beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in semi-arid Muvumba Valley, Rwanda
Dr. Charles RUHIMBANA
Marker-assisted introgression of major potyvirus resistance genes, l and bc-3 into market class common beans in Mediterranean region
Mr. Samuel NDINDIRIYIMANA
Development and evaluation of nutritional quality of maize based flour
Dr. Simon Martin Mvuyekure
Tailoring the deployment of market-driven coffee varieties in Rwanda from the international multilocational varietal testing
Mr. Moise Hubert BYIRINGIRO
Fuelwood use efficiency and household appreciation of improved and traditional cooking stoves in Rwanda
Mr. KATUSIME Joshua
Effect of replacing soybean with stinging nettle-based feed (urtica massaica) as a novel protein ingredient on broiler’s growth performances, carcass quality and egg yolk quality in layers in Rwanda
Oral Presenters
Dr. Alphonse Nyombayire
Paper ID2: Genotype by Environment Interaction and Maize Yield Stability Analysis across major ecologies of Rwanda
Dr. Daniel Nsengumuremyi
Production and Analysis of Orange Sweet Potato Flour Enriched with Whey Protein Powder
Ms. Sarah Wanjiku Macharia
CRISPR/Cas9 activation and overexpression of MusaVicilin gene for disease resistance in banana
Ms. Anastasie Musabyemungu
CRISPR/Development of Banana Xanthomonas wilt Resistance by over Expression of myb86 genes
Dr. Bancy Waithira Waweru
: Efficacy of entomopathogenic nematodes compared to local pest management practices against fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda in maize