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.