Improve food production for 120 farmers

In the past months the trainings activities and the field research in collaboration with the University of Burundi (UNIBU), has continued.

After the first phase of the investigation regarding farmers’ satisfaction with their new buildings and a noticeable change in animal welfare, new categories of people and places for conducting interviews were identified to carry out an in-depth survey to understand the needs and the changes in the food production chain. These included butchers, markets, milk collection centres, cafes, restaurants, and consumers. The two researchers from UNIBU, Simeon and Daniel, in collaboration with the international expert in veterinary, visited the people and locations identified, taking advantage of the interview opportunity to provide information on basic concepts and principles of public, reaching a total of 239 sensitized individuals.

Furthermore, eight training days were conducted by the international expert on the self-production of multi-nutritional blocks for the animals, the use of legumes and forage plants, the alternation of different foods and different nutrients, and the use of by-products from legume and rice processing, ensuring the production of protein sources for ruminant feeding.

Over 26.000 Calliandra spp. seedlings in bags, ready to be transplanted, have been distributed to farmers. These plants are important as they serve multiple purposes: they provide nutrition for animals, their roots help prevent soil erosion, and their branches can support climbing beans when the leaves are removed.

In conclusion, two sales point for multi-nutritional blocks were opened in two local Rural Service Centres (one in Ngoma, Rutana province and another in Rusengo, Ruyigi province). The shops were provided with the ingredients for manufacturing the multi-nutritional blocks and shelving for product display.

The validity and effectiveness of the project actions are confirmed by the high interest demonstrated by locals. There has been a request from two additional Rural Service Centres to also become production and sales points for multi-nutritional blocks, and the number of participants in the training days exceeded expectations (278 actual participants compared to the planned 120).

Links:

• IBO Italia's website

During the last months of 2023, the construction of 8 improved buildings was completed in 8 households in Ruyigi and Rutana provinces. The selected households are members of the local Rural Service Centres, associations of farmers that provide services to improve the production and processing of agricultural products.

The buildings were constructed close to the families' homes with the aim of improving the animals' living conditions, especially in terms of welfare and hygiene. Materials such as eucalyptus wood and metal corrugated roofing were used, materials that are readily available locally. The buildings are intended to be pilot models and examples for local farming communities, each of which can learn the rationale with which they were built and adapt it to their own specific context and economic possibilities.

The construction of the buildings was supported by specific training for the farmers about animal nutrition in order to have healthy animals and products - such as milk and meat - of quality, in a country where meeting household food needs is an increasingly complex challenge. More than 300 farmers have participated!

During the last months, two researchers from the University of Burundi also carried out a first phase of field research. Simeon and Daniel visited the farmers involved on a regular basis and noted their satisfaction with the building solution adopted, as well as the fact that the farmers recognised a change in animal welfare, helped by the simple but fundamental precautions taken in the buildings.

In the coming months, training activities and research in collaboration with the University will continue with the aim of improving the livestock-related food chain and contributing, in small part, to reinforce the food security of rural households!