A delegation led by Robert Bertram, USAID’s Chief Scientist at the Bureau for Resilience, Environment and Food Security, during a recent visit to Rwanda and Burundi, has lauded the remarkable progress achieved and the early impact made by partners in fifteen months of implementing the AID-I GLR project.
While witnessing the project’s early impact, Bertram stated, “The dedication and innovation displayed by our partners in Rwanda and Burundi are commendable. Their efforts are instrumental in transforming agricultural landscapes and enhancing regional food security.”
The AID-I GLR, a project funded by Feed the Future through USAID and led by IITA, focuses on delivering and disseminating agricultural, nutritional, and livestock innovations to smallholder farmers. These innovations address the pressing needs of farmers in Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and Rwanda, ultimately contributing to improved food and nutrition security.
During their visit, the USAID delegation engaged with various stakeholders to gain insights into the project’s activities and contributions. They toured demonstration plots, interacted with farmers, and assessed the adoption rates of improved agriculture and livestock technologies and practices. Farmers emphasized the efficacy of adopting improved agronomic, livestock, and nutritional practices over traditional methods, highlighting the tangible benefits yielded.
In Rwanda, the guests witnessed the significant progress made by the project by actively engaging in interventions focusing on maize, potatoes, vegetables, biofortified crops such as beans and Orange-fleshed sweet potatoes (OFSP), and soil amendment using lime. They interacted with all partners and, more importantly, engaged with farmers who were the primary beneficiaries of these interventions.
Josette Twizere, a female agro-dealer in the Kanzenze sector of Rubavu District, explained how the small pack approach combined with mother demonstration plots helped to create the demand for hybrid maize varieties promoted by Kilimo General Business (KGB), the seed company. Indeed, the company expanded its business to the Rubavu District by partnering with the AID-I GLR. From the small pack of 100 g of new hybrid maize seed distributed to farmers for demonstration in their farms, based on the demand expressed by farmers, KGB is now preparing 2kg bags for sale across the district through agro-dealers. “The demand for improved technologies by farmers, especially hybrid maize seed, has increased following the efforts by KGB and partnership with local input sellers. We no longer travel long distances to acquire seed from the neighboring towns since KGB delivers the requested stock directly to our shop,” Josette declared.
The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, as they observed firsthand the close collaboration between research organizations (technology developers) and seed companies in disseminating agricultural technologies to farmers through demonstration plots, the distribution of small seed packs, and the provision of advisory services.
In Burundi, the delegation interacted with scaling partners and farmers in Ngozi, Kirundo, and Muyinga provinces. They observed the International Potato Center’s support for the orange-fleshed sweet potato seed system and the project’s efforts to enhance its value addition. As part of the visit, livestock farmers in Muyinga highlighted cost-effective solutions, such as locally-produced cattle licks, which have significantly reduced expenses.
Sayukubara Serge, a livestock farmer in Muyinga, elaborated on the benefits of the locally-produced lick blocks, stating, “These locally-produced lick blocks are most effective in terms of quality and cost-effectiveness. The normal lick blocks we used to feed our cows were sourced outside the country, especially from Tanzania. One lick block would cost 25,000 Burundian francs (FBU), but this locally-made lick block is priced at 12,000 FBU. It is a remarkable cost reduction.” Serge’s testimony underscores the practical impact of the project on local farmers’ livelihoods.
Reflecting on the visit, Bertram remarked, ” The AID-I GLR project exemplifies the transformative impact that collaborative efforts can achieve in enhancing food security and improving livelihoods for smallholder communities.” He called on all partners, including national and local authorities, to develop ideas and additional partnerships to sustain the achievements. He also challenged partners to leverage this opportunity to maintain a platform where farmers and scaling partners can access existing technologies responding to their needs and influence the research to address emerging issues.
The AID-I GLR project will reach more than 1.2 million smallholder farmers across Burundi, DRC, and Rwanda by promoting awareness and enhancing the adoption of proven agricultural, livestock, and nutritional technologies, henceforth improving farmers’ livelihoods.
Contributed by Ritha Bumwe
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