Burundi launches $312 million agro-pastoral development project

The Burundi Ministry of Environment, Agriculture, and Livestock has officially launched the Integrated Development Project (BRIDEP) to boost agro-pastoral production in the Bujumbura and Gitega provinces. The initiative aims to increase the cultivation of rice and maize, as well as the rearing of poultry and pigs.

The project is funded by a total of $312 million, comprising $75 million from the African Development Bank, $50 million from the International Fund for Agricultural Development, and $134 million from the Burundian government. Beneficiaries are expected to contribute between $6 million and $7 million.

Key activities include the development of 1,735 hectares of irrigated marshes, specifically in the Randa, Gifurwe, and Bugoma areas, and the management of 9,199 hectares of hillsides. The project intends to benefit 120,000 households, approximately 600,000 people, with a focus on women and youth. Additionally, the program aims to create 14,600 jobs and improve infrastructure, such as dams and roads, to facilitate market access and climate resilience.