The African Development Bank (AfDB) has granted Burundi’s project to support the sustainable development of agriculture and livestock value chains in Burundi (PADCAE-B) US $20.55 million.
According to media reports, the PADCAE-B will be implemented over a five-year period in the provinces of Kirundo (Busoni, Vumbi, and Bwambarangwe), Muyinga (Giteranyi, Gasorwe and Gashoho) and Ngozi (Gashikanwa, Kiremba and Tangara) in northern Burundi. The initiative will directly benefit 138,060 people and indirectly benefit the entire population of the three provinces (Kirundo, Muyinga and Ngozi), i.e. a total of 2,743,366 inhabitants.
Through PADCAE-B, the government plans to rehabilitate 1,390 hectares of marshland, develop 3,024 hectares of watersheds and set up 800 hectares of hill irrigation and rainwater harvesting. These various projects should help boost farmers’ production in the targeted areas. The project will also support the training of seed agro-multipliers, while ensuring the production and distribution of 3,000 seedlings of new export crops, notably macadamia nuts and cashew nuts.
The funds allocated by the ADB will also enable the Burundian authorities to acquire new livestock, including 10,800 goats and 630 sows; as well as build a feed factory and an aquaculture hatchery. The Burundian government will create seven communal agro-pastoral centres that will accompany it in the implementation of the PADCAE-B and its vast agricultural sector reform programme. Support will also be provided for the structuring and professionalization of cooperatives through the establishment of 17 solar-powered grain growers in the country.
