Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Burundi
As part of the preparations for a field mission focusing on projects supported by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Burundi, a working meeting was held in Bujumbura on Monday June 1st 2026. It brought together representatives of the FAO in Burundi and a delegation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and Development Cooperation, led by Mr Michel Bizindavyi, Director of Francophonie. The aim was to share information on the FAO’s activities and to define the practical arrangements for the mission.
On Tuesday June 2nd 2026, the Directorate responsible for International Organizations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and Development Cooperation led a monitoring and evaluation mission of projects supported by the FAO. Among the sites visited were:
- The Mparambo Seed Centre and an irrigation infrastructure at the hill level.
- Rabbit feed processing sites managed by COIEDE cooperatives in Bujumbura and Gitega provinces (Cibitoke and Giheta communes).
This mission aimed to strengthen the partnership between the Ministry and the FAO and to ensure greater visibility of the results achieved. The delegation also visited:
- The Mparambo Seed Centre and a hillside irrigation system.
- Rabbit feed processing sites managed by COIEDE cooperatives in the provinces of Bujumbura and Gitega (Cibitoke and Giheta communes).
The aim of this mission was to strengthen the partnership between the Ministry and the FAO and to raise the profile of the results achieved. The delegation also visited:
- The Gisuru and Nyabitsinda farmers’ cooperative.
- The Kinyinya seed centre in Buhumuza province.
These organizations received beans, rice, maize and peanuts seeds distributed by the FAO. Members of these cooperatives testified to the progress made thanks to the technical and financial support as well as the training received. Despite some diseases affecting the crops, the harvest has increased and the knowledge acquired is being shared with farmers. The mission noted that cooperatives play an essential role in disseminating good practices, which justifies strengthened institutional support.
Finally, the delegation visited several cooperatives, including DUKUNDE IBIKORWA in Mbuye (Ngozi), in Butanyerera province. These groups are involved in agriculture, mushroom cultivation and the rearing of pigs and goats. The leaders confirmed that, thanks to FAO’s support, they have moved from a critical situation to a better life.
The general view is that the FAO’s support for agricultural education represents a major achievement. However, a mechanism should be put in place to regularly update the teaching materials in order to ensure that the training courses remain relevant.