Improve food production for 120 farmers

In the first months of 2025, IBO Italy was committed in carrying on its work on strengthening livestock activities, consistently with the strategic policies set by the government of Burundi.
In this phase, we focused on setting up rabbit breeding on a family-based level, a type of farming encouraged by the national authorities since it could represent a valid solution to the challenges of food insecurity and scarcity of resources faced by families.

IBO, in collaboration with the local partner Fondazione San Filippo Neri, provided 25 vulnerable households in the Nyambuye area, in the rural outskirts of Bujumbura with a startup kit for rabbit farming. The kit included an improved cage suitable for animal welfare and health needs, rabbits and necessary food and veterinary products. In addition, the involved farmers attended some training sessions held by international experts and local technicians from the Faculty of Agriculture and Biotechnology at the University of Burundi.

The delivery of the last 10 cages took place during a public event held on March 25^th2025 at the local Catholic Church branch in Nyambuye. The meeting was organized by the Foundation San Filippo Neri and was attended by local administrative authorities, representatives of the beneficiary families, project staff and institutional partners.

During the ceremony, the selected families, identified for their commitment to the care and support of orphans, received an improved cage for rabbit farming, along with the technical materials needed to start the activity. The promotion of permanent, enclosed livestock systems is aligned with national guidelines on food security, environmental sustainability and productive self-reliance. It represents one of the strategies supported by the project to strengthen the resilience of rural households.

Among the guests Mr. Luca Farina, Vice President of IBO Italia and project consultant in Burundi was present and offered an opportunity for dialogue and connection between the Italian partners and the local community, as well as a moment of shared reflection on the progress of the activities.

In addition to IBO Vicepresident, representatives of the Foundation San Filippo Neri, the project coordinator, a representative of the beneficiary families and the Head of the Nyambuye Zone all took the floor. Their speeches emphasized the social, economic and community value of the initiative, highlighting the importance of an integrated approach to rural development based on active family participation and the reinforcement of local solidarity networks.

The day concluded in a climate of enthusiasm and gratitude from the beneficiaries, who expressed appreciation for the support received and the attention shown by the institutions involved. During the next months, the selected households will receive technical follow-up and monitoring of the newly established farming activities, with the goal of progressively expanding the number of participating families and strengthening local capacities in sustainable agriculture and livestock farming.

Burundi, with 11 million people and 2.4% annual growth, faces food security and land allocation challenges. A 2021 law requiring permanent animal housing has created difficulties for farmers balancing food production and animal welfare. Since 2021 we have been addressing this by working with 120 farmers in Ruyigi and Rutana provinces.

In these areas, we built eight sustainable livestock facilities using local materials. Working with international experts and the University of Burundi, we have been introducing improved feed and fodder techniques to enhance both animal welfare and farm productivity.

Our strategic objective centers on converting these agricultural enhancements into viable, sustainable revenue streams for participating agricultural enterprises while enhancing regional food security. These advanced agricultural methodologies are strategically designed to generate enduring improvements in regional agricultural practices and economic conditions.

In the last year a team of the University of Burundi and some international experts promoted a field research in order to study strategies on how to improve animal welfare and food production.

The results of this research were presented in November 2024 during the Summer School program at the University of Burundi. Mr. Luca Farina, IBO’s Vicepresident and our filed consultant in Burundi, participated following an invitation from affiliated faculty members.

This professional engagement resulted from a formal invitation extended by the University's Director of Research, Dr. David Nahimana, during a previous institutional visit in July 2024 to participate in the Summer School-Edition 2024. The occasion helds particular significance as it marked the 60th anniversary of Burundi's preeminent public academic institution.

The symposium, conducted from November 11 to 15, 2024, was presented under the theme: 1964 – 2024, l'Université du Burundi au service du développement durable et en perspective vers la réalisation de la vision du Burundi Pays émergent en 2040 et Pays développé en 2060.

Throughout his three-day participation, Mr. Farina engaged in sessions showcasing recent project developments in Burundi, with particular emphasis on the achievements of the previous year, alongside additional mission-related activities.

At the conclusion of the event, the University of Burundi extended an invitation to our Vice President to deliver remarks regarding the significance of international collaboration in scientific advancement, highlighting the critical nature of cross-border research dissemination.