Thousands of residents in various villages in the Republic of Burundi are among the beneficiaries of the successful implementation Adapting to Climate change project (ACC-LVB).
Today their faces are radiating with joy as they reap the immense benefits of the project.
Mburikingichi Co-operative is among the beneficiaries of the project.
Through the support from the project, they are able to grind maize, rice, millet and cassava.
The group’s chairman Mr Rugenga Mazindejore says, “we are so happy with this project because we are able to generate our daily income that has greatly changed our lives”.
A posho mill for Mburukingichi Co-operative group in the Republic of Burundi that was set up by ACC-LVB Project.
The project has also supported trained farmers in beekeeping.
According to the chief of the co-operative of Kerebuke Tupirute group Mr Nizigiyimana Diomeode says, “The project has supported us by giving us one hundred bee hives and we have been able to harvest honey once”.
For decades, the raging floods were a menace to residents and farmers of Busoni and Giteranyi villages in the Republic of Burundi.
Several houses were submerged in water and crops washed away as farmers counted their losses. The project has rehabilitated 240 hectares of agricultural land and constructed contour bunds.
Agroforestry helping in soil and water conservation.
Apart from the contour bunds, 548,00 different varieties of multipurpose and agroforestry trees have also been planted.
Through the project, local communities in Busoni and Giteranyi villages constructed a total of 125 Kilometers of contour bunds.
This has helped in reducing the intensity of surface run-off, hence protecting the top fertile soils in their farms from being washed away.
It has also helped in retention of soil moisture content thus enhancing crop productivity.
According to Valentine Murechi, a resident of Busoni, “this project has really helped us because in the past we incurred many losses due to floods but since the construction we can now continue with our farming activities without fear”.
Mr Annicet Nkurikiye, National Project coordinator for ACC-LVB in the Republic of Burundi also admits that the project has had positive impact in the region.
He says, “Flooding was a serious problem in this area but since we started this project, we have witnessed tremendous achievements. Farmers no longer complain of flooding.
The contour bunds have been stabilized by planting 820, 000 Bana grass along the soil embarkment. Notably, planted Bana grass has multiple ecological benefits since it is also utilized by farmers to feed their livestock.
Ends.
