Student Profile
success at rica
Alain Bernard Dusenge
RICA third year student specializing in Agricultural Mechanization Systems
As a student of conservation agriculture at the Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture (RICA), Alain Bernard Dusenge was excited
to begin his internship at Global Industries and Agro-Technologies (GIT), a local post-harvest machinery manufacturing company. Understandably, Alain was both eager to experience the real world of work and nervous that the knowledge acquired at RICA might not be enough for the practical challenges of post- harvest management in the field.
Fortunately, Alain had taken AGM 301, a Post-Harvest Management and Processing class, giving him a solid foundation in the principles and practices of post- harvest management, from pre-harvesting factors that affect post-harvest quality to storage and processing. Armed with this knowledge, Alain was able to quickly integrate into GIT activities and has proven to be an important member of the team. His understanding of the different operations involved in post-harvest technology helped him quickly grasp the technical details of various projects and actively contribute to their successful completion including a maize thresher, grass chopper, and multi-purpose electronic weighing balance.
These projects aim to improve quality, reduce losses, and increase profitability.
“I realized how much the AGM 301 class prepared me for this internship,” Alain said. “I was able to fully understand and apply what I learned in the classroom to real-world challenges. Without this class, I would not have been successful in my internship.”
RICA’s post-harvest management class gives students the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in the field of agriculture. The class covers a wide range of topics, from the basic principles of post-harvest handling to advanced technology. It also provides the knowledge and skills needed to reduce post-harvest losses and add value to the product, while exploring the possibilities of starting agro-industries.
“Students who take this class are well-prepared for internships and future careers in the post-harvesting sector,” said course lecturer Quenan G. Gasana. “We provide students with the theoretical knowledge and practical skills they need to succeed.”
Alain’s internship success is a testament to the value of his time at RICA and serves as a powerful example of how experiential learning can be applied in real-world situations to make a tangible impact.
“Providing students with an experiential education background and hands-on opportunities in an operational setting prepares our students to succeed in any endeavour they choose,” said Dr. Jeff Ullman, Mechanization & Irrigation Enterprise Lead and Internship Coordinator.