This project has been formulated to a large extent by PROTOS and has been implemented by the Italian partner NGO CISV, with PROTOS’ punctual support.

Key Elements

• Irrigated rice farming and terrace building in marshy and wet valleys,
• Strengthening of organisational structures and 'maîtrise d'ouvrage' (ownership of the construction process), 
• Access to production means (certified seeds, fertiliser), 
• Integrated approach of the agricultural chain,
• Poverty alleviation through improved food security, 
• Integrated Water Management: local sustainability in small river basins; broader consultative bodies and strategy development.

Partners

The programme is being steered by CISV and the partners are:

• ODAG (Organisation de Développement de l'Archidiocèse de Gitega): ODAG is already operative in the municipalities Itaba and Makebuko around drinking water. The current project around agriculture and IWRM increases the synergies and impact.
• PROTOS: provides technical support for irrigation, development of sustainable governance structures and the implementation of IWRM at the local level. At a higher level, PROTOS will provide support through capitalisation and exchange between several important water players (public authorities, agriculture, other donors).

Target Groups

• Rural population in the municipalities Itaba and Makebuko: 1200 families are supported in irrigated rice farming; 3000 families are supported in the construction of terraces and the production of other farming crops.
• The municipalities of Itaba and Makebuko are the actual bouwheer builderships of the new irrigation infrastructure.
• 2 municipal farmer’s cooperatives, rice committees, tree growers, producers of selected and certified seedstock (in cooperation with the BTC).
• The technical state service ISABU (Institut Supérieur de l’Agronomie au Burundi) and 88 technical support personnel.

Objectives

Improving living conditions of the rural population in the province of Gitega through improved crop yield, increased diversification and improved commercialisation of agricultural products in and around the wet valley areas in the Itaba en Makebuko municipalities.

Decrease of water borne diseases and decrease of the labour time that is currently being spent by women and children to fetch drinking water.

Main results

• Suited for specific marshy soils for irrigated rice (at least 120 ha).
• Increased yields of rice, beans, mais, vegetables and potatoes through better access to productions means and improved agricultural practice (dissemination of certified seedstock, means or technologies to improve soil fertility).
• Set up of 2 farming cooperatives for the commercialisation and the access to production means.
• Capacity building of local actors actif in the agricultural sector; support of improved cooperation amongst these actors.
• Development of a strategic framework for IWRM (consultation, capitalisation and exchange around sustainable development and IWRM).

Financing

EU, CISV and ???.