The United Nations Decade of Family Farming 2019-2028 is underway in Burundi too. The Burundian Ministry of the Environment, Agriculture and Livestock (MINEAGRIE), in collaboration with INADES-Formation 
Burundi, organized the launch of the National Action Plan for Family Farming on December 27, 2024 in Bujumbura.
Under the High Patronage of the Minister’s Assistant Mr. Ir BUTOYI Léonard, this activity saw the participation of members of the Technical Working Committee for the elaboration of the National Action Plan for Family Farming “PANAF” appointed by the Minister. 
The said committee is made up of MINEAGRIE executives, representatives of United Nations agencies such as FAO and IFAD, international and national NGOs, non-profit associations including agricultural support organizations such as INADES-Formation Burundi, and agricultural producers’ organizations.
The fundamental objective of this action plan is to promote the contribution of family farming to the eradication of hunger and the reduction of rural poverty. With this in mind, the decade aims to develop rural areas through sustainable agriculture, help small-scale farmers, particularly women, and
improve farmers’ quality of life in order to put an end to poverty.
In his speech, the Assistant to the Minister specified that this national action plan will refer to the 7 pillars of the Global Action Plan of the United Nations Decade for Family Farming 2019-2028 on the one hand, and align with the Vision of Burundi as an Emerging Country in 2040 and a Developed Country in 2060 on the other.
According to studies, almost 80% of extremely poor people live in rural areas and work in the agricultural sector. To respond to this global concern, MINEAGRIE is working in close collaboration with its various development partners,
invoked the Assistant Minister.
During the meeting, participants had the opportunity to exchange views on global and national achievements in family farming since the United Nations proclaimed 2014 the International Year of the Family Farming (IYFF) in 2011. Burundi has joined the rest of the world in celebrating this year, and several
related achievements have been recorded. The constant is that agriculture in Burundi is purely family-based. However, the challenge lies in its non-institutionalization as a foundation for food security and sustainable development in the sector.
At the launch workshop, the agenda for the activities involved in drawing up the plan was defined. The work will be participatory and inclusive, taking into account the configuration of national players involved in promoting family farming. A deadline of 4 months has been set for the draft to be finalized and validated by the relevant authorities. 
The MINEAGRIE thanked the various development partners who continue to support the government’s efforts in the agricultural sector. In particular, he thanked INADES-Formation Burundi, which had mobilized funds to develop the PANAF from the World Rural Forum with IFAD funding on behalf of the Groupe de Plaidoyer Agricole “GPA” /CNAF.
Published by HAVYARIMANA Richard
Advocacy and Communication Officer
