The U.S. Embassy in Burundi has announced new funding of USD $796,000 to revitalize the country’s agricultural sector and empower local farmers.
The funding will support a five-year initiative, “Resilient Food Systems and Improved Local Sourcing through Private Sector-Led Market Access for Job Creation,” which is part of the U.S. Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Economic Recovery and Reform Activity (USAID-ERRA).
The project is being implemented by TradeMark Africa (TMA) in collaboration with AUXFIN Burundi.
The initiative, funded by Feed the Future, the U.S. Government’s global hunger and food security program, aims to strengthen the value chains for key agricultural staples in Burundi, including beans, maize, rice, and white sorghum. It will target 40,000 smallholder farmers in the provinces of Bujumbura Rural, Bubanza, Cankuzo, and Cibitoke.
The project also seeks to ensure that at least 30% of the participants are women.
“The investments in agriculture and food security are critical for ensuring sustainable development in Burundi,” said Dr. Aliou Tall, Acting Country Representative for USAID Burundi. “The partnerships we’re fostering between public institutions, private sector actors, and development organizations underscore our commitment to unlocking Burundi’s full potential.”
The project will focus on improving market access by connecting farmers to financial institutions and expanding access to modern, climate-smart agricultural practices. It will also offer business management training to enhance productivity and ensure long-term sustainability.
In addition, the initiative will organize smallholder farmers into collaborative groups of up to 50 households, allowing them to collectively access resources such as fertilizers, seeds, and financing. This model is expected to improve social cohesion, promote economic resilience, and increase access to essential agricultural inputs.
The initiative is expected to have far-reaching effects, improving food security and supporting economic growth through local sourcing and job creation.
About Feed the Future
Feed the Future is a U.S. Government initiative aimed at addressing global hunger and poverty. It focuses on leveraging agriculture and entrepreneurship to stimulate economic growth and create new opportunities in some of the world’s poorest regions.
