Burundi

Progress Report: Batwa
Development And Social Integration Project

Date: 7 July 2009

On behalf of our contacts in Burundi, Links International would like to thank Change4Change for their kind investment of £6515 towards the Batwa Agricultural project.

Project summary

The aim is to improve the living conditions of the Batwa people, by directly intervening in the improvement of the current agriculture system and in reinforcing their potential and capacities to match with the overall economic situation. This objective was to be achieved by our contacts helping the Batwa to increase the food products (beans and maize) and production of a community field of cassava.

Activity done

During this period, they have cultivated 2 ha of cassava in an area called Gihinga and 0.60 ha in another area called Kibungere. In Gihinga, the land had been given by the local authorities; previously it had eucalyptus trees plantations. The land preparation took a long time as they had to uproot all the trees and the soil was also very acidic and, as such, they had to treat the soil before they could plant any cassava. In Kibungere, the village paid for the rent of the land because there were no free lands near their village to be given by the local authorities. Now the cassava plantations are growing. In February, other villages will receive cassava plants from these 2 villages but, before that time, our contacts also plan to buy new cassava plants for the September-October culture season. The first harvest will be in March (2010) for Kibungere village and in August (2010) for Gihinga village. Gihinga is situated in a colder region, so crops take much longer to mature. 74 families (40 in Gihinga and 34 in Kibungere) will benefit from this first phase of the project. As yet our contacts have not been able to use project funds to begin the cultivation of beans and maize. They plan to use the remaining funds (7,700 US$) giving 1200 kg of beans and maize seeds to 350 families to be planted toward the end of September/October. This is the normal planting season when there is no change of the climate. They also plan to plant another 2 ha or more of cassava in a village called Nyarusange.

Difficulties

In the proposal that was originally submitted to Change4Change our contacts had planned to begin the agriculture project in the Nyarusange commune. They had appealed to the authorities for the Batwa villagers to receive enough land to begin the project but unfortunately this was not successful. The local administration authorities were divided on the issue and were taking a very long time to decide. They are still asking for the land and waiting to see if it is possible to extend the project into this particular village in October. Failing that they plan to work into a village named Rukoba. Their preference is to focus on the work in Nyarusange because the Batwa people in that village live in very poor conditions, most begging or working for other people. Our contacts still have 7700 US$. This amount will be used: To give beans, maize seeds and fertilisers to 350 families. To add fertilisers to already planted cassava field. To prepare and plant new field of cassava, 2 ha or more, depending on the prices of the period. On behalf of our contacts and the Batwa people in Burundi we offer our deepest gratitude to Change4Change for their generous investment.

Joe Gisbey
on behalf of the
Links team