CIBITOKE, May 14th (ABP) – In the continuation of the project “Responses to the cumulative effects of climatic and economic crises on food security in the Republic of Burundi”, financed by the World Bank and executed by FAO and CEDI, water pumps agricultural use were distributed on Monday to low-income farmers throughout Cibitoke province.
A pump must be used by ten people living close to each other, we learned on site. According to the head of the training, extension and supervision of cooperatives at the Provincial Office in charge of agriculture Cibitoke, and focal point of that project Mr. Patrice Ntunzwenimana, a total of 7,557 people are beneficiaries of the said project in Cibitoke province. Those are 2060 beneficiaries from Buganda commune; 962 from Bukinanyana commune; 1021 from Mabayi; 1121 from the Mugina commune; 1027 from Murwi; and 1,366 beneficiaries from Rugombo, according to the same source.
Initially, they benefited from the seeds of various market garden crops; then DAP and KCl brand fertilizers; then bean seeds. The same official revealed to ABP that the project aims to provide agricultural households affected by food insecurity due to the cumulative effects of climatic and economic crises with quality agricultural inputs (beans, rice, corn, market garden crops and fertilizers) for the 2024A, 2024B and 2024C agricultural seasons. He invited them to combine their efforts, to work in a cooperative association; an effective way to increase production.
Mr. Ntunzwenimana urged them to have composts, to produce organic fertilizers to mix with those chemical fertilizers, but also to keep and properly maintain those pumps.
As for the beneficiaries of that government project, they expressed their satisfaction. Furthermore, they positively appreciate the monetary transfer they receive from the PAM within the framework of the same project to rent arable land and to purchase phytosanitary products.