VEGETABLE PRODUCTION IN BURUNDI

PRESENTED BY

VYIZIGIRO Ernest MSc Crop Science

OUTLINE OF PRESENTATION

Overview Main vegetables Production areas Production system Marketing channels Main actors in marketing channels Importance of vegetable industry to national

economy Constraints & Solutions

Overview

27,834 km² of which 23 500 km² for agriculture 8 million inhabitants Density :293,7 inhab/ Sq km Unitary Republic with a Presidential Regime Official language : French, Kirundi others: Swahili and English Population: Hutus, Tutsis, Twa Over 90% are farmers.

Main vegetables

Onions, leek, Garlic, celery, carrots, tomatoes,

peas, a mixture of different types of squash,

Cucumber, eggplant, amaranths, peppers,

cabbage, beans (green) fresh vegetables, spinach,

a variety of leaves - such as cassava leaves, Taro

leaves, potato leaves, etc.

Production Area

Cibitoke Bubanza A long Tanganyika Lake Kirundo Muramvya Kayanza Gitega

Production system

Produced by smallholder growers Cooperatives are involved in vegetable production Under rain field conditions (some areas are

irrigate) Harvested, transported to rural markets or open-

air markets Consumed locally

Marketing and channels

PRODUCERS (smallholders, cooperatives)

DISTRIBUTORS

WHOLESALERS

RETAILERS

LOCAL CONSUMER

INPUT SUPPLIERS

Marketing and channels

Stakeholders involved

Government Input suppliers Producers Transporters Wholesalers Retailers Consumers

Importance of vegetable industry to national economy

Income generation

Aids in food and nutritional security

Rural development

Employment opportinities

Constraints

Poor infrastructures

Lack of a good marketing system

Fluctuation of prices

Post harvest losses

Lack of credit and loan

Seasonal fluctuations

Trucking capacity limited, especially refrigerated trucks needed to reach larger markets, such as Kigali, Kampala and Nairobi, Mombasa, etc..,

Limited access to information

Lack of research

Lack of experience and technical skills

Constraints cont…

Opportunities

Huge market consisting of millions of consumers. High population from different ethnic groups with a

strong demand for exotic products Organic and ecological products on high demand

can be grown in both low and highlands areas of Burundi.

Direct access to supermarkets and major wholesalers

Distances relatively short within the country, promoting the transport of perishable goods

Solutions

Organization of vegetable sector by Government Fixation of prices Subsidize the sector Improvement of infrastructures Improved markets Encourager investisement (Private Sector) Research

Thanks for listening Any comments, contributions and questions

are welcome

Welcome to Burundi