Bujumbura, 27 Déc. 2021 – Committed since 2013 to the promotion of healthy, sustainable and sufficient food for all, Inades-Formation Burundi is embarking on a new era of close collaboration with major research institutions, in this case the University of Burundi. The formalization of this partnership is initiated by the active participation in the organization of the workshop for sharing the results of research on farming practices in Burundi under the theme “Polycultures versus monocultures in the agricultural systems of Burundi, received ideas in the peasant school. This activity took place within the premises of this university on December 27, 2021 under the lead of its Research Center in Animal, Plant and Environmental Production Sciences “CRAVE”.
The audience was made up of the various research institutions ; both national and international NGOs working in the agricultural sector, including member organizations of the platform on family farming called the Agricultural Advocacy Group “ GPA » involved in defending the interests of family farmers ; young people enrolled in the master’s cycle in the various research disciplines at the University of Burundi and the media. The choice of these participants was guided by their role in the development of the agricultural sector and their likely contribution to the process of developing the national plan for family farming and its implementation in accordance with the guidelines of the 2019 -2028 global action plan of the decade. On behalf of the Rector of the University of Burundi, the Director of Research and Innovation, Dr. NTWUNZWENIMANA Mélance led the opening ceremonies.
In his speech, the Director of Inades-Formation Burundi, Mr. NIGEZE Joseph strongly recognized their involvement in the preparations for the activity. He seized the moment to share with the audience the main fields of action of the institution and he hammered his commitment for other future opportunities in order to strengthen the synergies of action with the University of Burundi and its centers. research in the service of the common good.
Determined in the implementation of the United Nations Decade on Family Farming 2019-2028, with the aim of acting locally, Inades-Formation Burundi suddenly presented the theme family farming, at the heart of sustainable agricultural systems in Burundi Based on the general framework of family farming and in connection with the mission of Inades-Formation Burundi, the Advocacy and Communication Officer, Mr. HAVYARIMANA Richard presented the theme mentioned above. He has developed the approach used in supporting family farmers and action research as preferred methods to guarantee sustainable agricultural systems in Burundi according to its geographical location. It has proven a clear link between sustainability in the real sense of the word and family farming visibly less interested in large-scale investments at the national level. This minimization of family farming is discouraging in a context where almost 100% of food products come from the efforts of small family farmers. He focused on the advantages and opportunities that are emerging for this area to be sufficiently supported in the spirit of translating into application the decade to which we are committed and ensuring the lasting survival of all citizens.
To sustainably support family farming, Inades-Formation Burundi as a practitioner, encourages action research on biofertilizers and bio-pesticides as well as other natural methods used by farmers in the treatment of plant diseases and pests. in the spirit of producing without destroying. All these innovations are directly supported on the ground in order to stimulate effective ownership by agricultural producers.
En plus de l’expertise d’Inades-Formation Burundi, d’autres conférenciers ont abordé des sujets similaires. The biological, nutritional and economic efficiency of the cassava-maize-bean association in the natural regions of Kirimiro and Mirwa was presented by Mr. SIBOMANA Remy, part of Support for Integral Development and Solidarity on the Hills ” ADISCO ” (member of the GPA). The similar analysis relating mainly to the methodology and applications of the Cassava and Bean association was communicated by Prof. KABONEKA Salvator, teacher at the University of Burundi. Finally, the other teacher from the same University, Prof. NDIMANYA Patrice introduced the origin of the monoculture-polyculture dogma as a tool at the service of risk management, the resilience of communities and ecosystems.
In addition to the common understanding of certain notions from the peasant school in terms of family farming, through the results of shared analyses, the participants understood that polyculture is more efficient than monoculture. It is more logical in a country which essentially lives from agriculture at more than 90% like Burundi. The discussions unanimously allowed the audience to express the urgency of changing mentalities and adopting agricultural systems based on family farming. The intention is to minimize the obvious risks of investing solely in agribusiness. The participants thanked the University of Burundi and its partners for accepting such debates in an academic environment to enlighten the entire Burundian community. They therefore asked to organize other conferences in the near future to explore these subjects separately, prioritizing family farming, which is the basis.
Inades-Formation Burundi is delighted with the close collaboration with renowned national research institutions, including the University of Burundi. This framework will imperatively contribute to the sustainable development of the country thanks to the scientific validation of the data and the national scale-up of the results of the research-action being tested on family farms.
To motivate partners including Inades-Formation Burundi, all the facilitators of the monthly conferences for the 2021 financial year, the University of Burundi awarded them scientific communication certificates.
