The focus of the Newsletter is on a new, collaborative agriculture and livestock development project that is associated with a number of firsts. Last year for the first time, Rector Servilien NITUNGA of Hope Africa University (the University) asked Dr. John McCready of the Haley-McCready Outreach and Development Fund (the H-MODF) to develop community involvement at the University’s two Research and Development Centres; Buringa (animals) and Rukaramu (rice cultivation). As another first, the Rector indicated that the community involvement should include the members of the local Free Methodist Church of Burundi (the Church). Accordingly, the H-MODF has developed two new collaborative agriculture and livestock development projects; one nearby the Buringa Research and Development Centre and one at the Rukaramu Research and Development Centre. The project in Buringa is active but the project at Rukaramu is inactive while it awaits the University’s promised but delayed access to the rice cultivation fields (access and use of the University’s land is another first).
The Buringa project is the first active agriculture and livestock development project involving University’s Agriculture and Zootechny Program and its livestock Research and Development Centre at Buringa. It is the first agriculture and livestock development project being implemented in collaboration with the Free Methodist Church of Burundi, Hope Africa University and the Haley-McCready Outreach and Development Fund.
Project Title:
Cultivating Corn and Soybeans and Breeding Pigs for Vulnerable Women from Buringa Colline, Gihanga Commune in Bubanza Province
Project Manager:
Epithace NDUWAYO is a dedicated long-term volunteer with a proven track record in community development. Currently, he successfully manages four development projects, demonstrating strong skills in planning, coordination and impact-driven execution. Epithace Nduwayo holds two degrees from two different universities: Licence in Educational Psychology from the University of Burundi (2017) and a Bachelor’s degree in Bible and Theology from Hope Africa University (2018). Rev. Epithace Nduwayo is the active legal representative for his church. Just recently, Epithace enrolled in Hope Africa University’s Community Development Master’s Degree Program.
Introduction
Bubanza is one of the western provinces of Burundi. The province is commonly said to be in the Imbo Region. It is fertile and is good for producing food like corn and soybeans once they are planted in a good season. Buringa is a colline (a hill) located within the Gihanga Commune of Bubanza Province in northwestern Burundi. This area is part of the country’s lowest-lying regions, characterized by a combination of plains and valleys. It is situated near the Rusizi River and the Rukoko Natural Reserve, which contributes to its rich biodiversity.
The women of Buringa Colline in Gihanga Commune are hard workers. They have learned to survive for themselves and their children day-by-day, year-in and year-out despite the great challenges that surround them. However, the local women demonstrate a strong willingness to collaborate through self-help initiatives, especially when empowered with training and consistent support. This agriculture and livestock development project brings together 10 women in a self-help association and involves crop cultivation, pig farming and microfinancing. The project is designed to become self-supporting, self-managing, self-governing and self-sustaining.
The Buringa project is one of the first two projects to be strengthened by the supportive collaboration of the Hope Africa University (the University), the Free Methodist Church of Burundi (the Church) and the Haley-McCready Outreach and Development Fund (the H-MODF). There are a number of other firsts. One first was that Rector Servilien NITUNGA asked Dr. John McCready of the H-MODF to develop community involvement at the two Research and Development Centres; Buringa (animals) and Rukaramu (rice cultivation) and involve local Church members. The H-MODF responded by organizing and developing the first two agriculture and livestock development projects at the University’s Buringa and Rukaramu Research and Development Centres. The project beneficiaries are members of the local Church. For the first time, both projects will be supported by University’s Agriculture and Zootechny Program and its Research and Development Centres. The University has already provided the first two onsite Extension Community Planting Training Sessions at the Buringa project. For the first time, Rector NITUNGA agreed to provide the project beneficiaries with practical training on the care and management of pigs, followed by giving pigs to the two project associations. Rector NITUNGA has promised access and use of a rice field at the Rukaramu Research and Development Centre but the project is inactive because the University has delayed access to the rice field.
Through collaboration with University’s Agriculture and Zootechny Program and its Research and Development Centres, the project beneficiaries will receive practical training and support that will boost productivity. This should be accompanied by the provision of quality seeds, essential farming tools and improved access to water. Additionally, facilitating market access and promoting small-scale agro-processing will help add value to their productinn. Finally, incorporating a self-help association, crop cultivation, animal husbandry and microfinancing components will empower the women economically and enhance the sustainability of the project.
Developing the Association
To start the project, the Project Manager, Epithace Nduwayo, met with leaders of the local parish of the Free Methodist Church of Burundi to select 10 eligible beneficiaries. The next meeting involved the potential beneficiaries and the Project Manager described the project, the association and the importance of working together. The Epithace explained the purpose of the project and emphasized the value of collaboration within the self-help project association named, DUTEZE IMBERE IMIRYANGO (DEVELOPING OUR FAMILIES). The beneficiaries signed an agreement to join the association, committed to collaboration and agreed to respect the association’s leaders, rules and regulations. Once the association was established, the members elected their officers; a President, a Secretary-Treasurer and an Advisor.
The Project Association is a participatory, democratic organization with its members serving as both the workforce for development activities and the recipients of all project benefits. The self-help association serves as the primary vehicle for implementing the development activities, becoming self-supporting and developing the capacity for self-management, self-governance and long-term sustainability.
Cultivating Crops
The Buringa project planted and cultivated corn and recently had its first harvest. Using grant money from the H-MODF, the Project Manager and the association members identified and selected a suitable field to rent for cultivating maize and soybeans. A rental agreement with the landowner was signed in the presence of all association members. The association rented a big field, more than a half hectare (30m -120m) for one year; two crop cultivation seasons.
The association members provided all the labor for crop cultivation. The association also purchased tools, seeds and supplies. Under the guidance of the Project Manager and onsite, hands-on practical training from the University, the land was prepared and the corn seeds were planted using improved methods expected to yield greater productivity than the traditional practices.
Yes, for the first time, the University provided the beneficiaries with two onsite Extension Community Planting Training Sessions. The Department Head of the Agriculture and Zootechny Program and three students who had attended and participated in the Foundations for Farming’s high-production practical training provided the training; Cyprien NTUNZWENIMANA, Gabriel NIYONSABA, Jean Bosco NIUYOKWIZERA and Lydie NSENGIYUMAVA,
After the training, the beneficiaries completed the planting and corn began to grow.
Harvesting the Corn
Crop cultivation is all about the harvest. The cultivation of corn produced a good harvest and the project beneficiaries went to work on harvesting the corn and celebrating the harvest.
As will be done for all future harvests, the association members received 40% of the harvest of corn and 60% was sold to allow ongoing, self-supporting crop cultivation (seed, fertilizers and renting land). Association members are also being encouraged to work for other farmers to earn additional income which will be shared between the project association and its members and their families.
Breeding Pigs
As the crop[ cultivation becomes self-sustaining, the animal husbandry phase will be initiated, focusing on pig breeding. For the first time, thanks to Rector Servilien NITUNGA, the project association will be given pigs from the Buringa Research and Development Centre. As another first and before being given pigs, the Buringa Research and Development Centre will provide training for the project beneficiaries, including practical training on the proper care and management of the pigs and the construction of suitable pig pens.
The pigs will be owned collectively by the association and will be housed and cared for at one site. Manure will be collected and used for composting to enhance soil fertility. When the pigs give birth, the piglets will become the property of the beneficiaries. As the number of pigs grow, both the association and its members will be able to generate income through the sale of pigs. Profits will be reinvested to strengthen and expand the project, while enabling women to better support their households. Once the project is well-established, it may provide a foundation for launching a similar agricultural initiative to benefit another group of economically vulnerable women.
Microfinancing
The members of the project association have developed an internal microfinance program. The Project Manager assisted the women in setting up a self-financing system based on small, weekly contributions; each beneficiary contributes 1,000 BIF per week to be saved in a common account. Each Friday, members meet for collective activities for the association and make their small contribution.
The money is stored in a security box with three locks, and the keys are held by three different association members. Similarly, all approved withdrawals will require the involvement of all three key holders. Association members are able to access small loans for income-generating activities and the loans must be repaid with 5% interest. The income generated will allow the women to purchase personal items for themselves and their family members.
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