A collaborative effort to advance sustainable agriculture in Burundi

Published 12/18/2024
This week, the Koppert Foundation hosted a visit from the Ambassador of Burundi, H.E. Mrs. Isabelle Ndahayo. Organized in collaboration with CABI, the visit aimed to explore and promote biocontrol solutions - for both commercial and non-commercial purposes - to address Burundi's agricultural challenges and promote plant health. Burundi, one of the world’s poorest nations, presents a unique opportunity to leapfrog the traditional reliance on chemical pesticides, which have historically been unavailable to its growers. This opens the door for the country to adopt biological pest management practices directly, aligning with sustainable agricultural principles.

The ambassador, a strong advocate for advancing Burundian agriculture with modern, nature-based solutions, expressed her intent to inspire policymakers back home to embrace these sustainable approaches.

CABI, an inter-governmental organization dedicated to improving lives through agricultural and environmental solutions, has partnered with Koppert and Koppert Foundation for years to share knowledge on biocontrol. Together, they developed the Bioprotection Portal and implemented training programs for plant doctors to expand access to biocontrol resources. These efforts have been instrumental in empowering agricultural stakeholders with the tools and expertise needed to adopt sustainable farming practices.

The Koppert Foundation has recently initiated a transformative three-year project in Cibitoke, West Burundi, in partnership with ZOA. This initiative supports smallholder farmers in adopting climate-smart and agroecological farming principles to enhance food security, increase production, and improve livelihoods. Using the Participatory Integrated Planning (PIP) approach, developed by Wageningen University and Research, the project motivates farmers to envision and plan for their future. By fostering a mentality shift, the approach encourages households to set tangible goals, meticulously plan activities, and manage income and expenditures collectively.

The project aims to train 3,300 farmers in sustainable farming methods, establish farmer associations and cooperatives to help growers market their products, and strengthen governmental agricultural extension services at the district level. These efforts are designed to ensure long-term support and sustainable development for Burundian agriculture.