The CDN Association notes that a change of mindset is essential to solving the problems of low food crop production in Burundi.
Although Burundi has a significant labor force in the agricultural sector (84% of the population), as highlighted by the Ministry of Environment, Agriculture, and Livestock in its National Agricultural Strategy (2017-2027), production remains insufficient.
This means that farmers are simply not producing enough food to meet the needs of a growing population.
Despite the country's rich biodiversity and the fact that most people work in agriculture, production is still severely insufficient. This means that the Burundian population is not fully exploiting the potential of this important sector.
The CDN Association believes it is high time for the people of Cibitoke province to realize that agriculture can no longer be treated as a social activity or a normal development program. It must be treated and managed like a business, as it represents the future of socio-economic development in Cibitoke Province in particular and the entire country in general.
According to the CDN Association, in the long term, emphasis must be placed on mechanization and irrigation programs throughout Cibitoke Province, with the mission of encouraging and supporting farmers' work.
The CDN Association realizes that we must consider the mechanization of agriculture in Cibitoke Province. In this province, irrigation of arable land is still very low, and farmers mainly use hoes to cultivate their land.
They must use appropriate production methods that increase the value and volume of agricultural production.
The CDN Association must also monitor farmers' activities and understand their challenges.
In Cibitoke province, with the support of the CDN association, young people must be trained to develop agricultural business models that will not only create jobs but also significantly contribute to feeding the entire province.
The CDN Association will attract graduates to work in the agricultural sector by providing them with training and mentoring services that will enable them to develop agricultural business models.
It will also encourage the organization of farmers into cooperatives and the development of village markets, not to mention the establishment of storage facilities to improve the crop value chain.
Supporting agricultural value chains is central to the CDN Association's strategy.
Therefore, the CDN Association's agricultural project is part of the new strategy, which primarily aims to empower smallholder farmers to prosper and strengthen their climate resilience through regenerative agriculture. The project aims to improve farmers' incomes by promoting healthy agricultural practices.
For this project, the selection of beneficiaries will primarily be based on smallholder farmers in Cibitoke province, including those in need, to enable them to earn an improved income.
The project's main objectives are to strengthen healthy agricultural practices that are resilient to climate hazards and to equitably distribute smallholder farmers' incomes.
The CDN Association's agricultural project was designed to help farmers in Cibitoke province overcome problems related to climate hazards, which lead to low agricultural production and insufficient household incomes.
Through this project, beneficiaries will receive training on resilient practices and how to fertilize their highly acidic soils.
To achieve this, the CDN Association relies on the effective participation of all stakeholders, including the local government and beneficiary communities.
It remains convinced that this project will have a positive and lasting impact on the lives of smallholder farmers. She is counting on their support and participation to make the project a success. She insists that the project will only be sustainable when the administration and beneficiaries take ownership of it.
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