In a move to empower youth in Burundi, IITA–CGIAR, through its Youth in Agribusiness Unit (IYA) and ENABLE-TAAT program, has partnered with Burundi’s Ministry of Environment, Agriculture, and Livestock (MINIAGRIE) to provide the technical assistance needed by the African Development Bank (AfDB) funded PADCAE-B project to transform the country’s agricultural sector.
PADCAE-B, also known as the Project to Support the Sustainable Development of Agricultural and Livestock Value Chains, aims to transform Burundi’s food systems by addressing long-standing challenges, including low soil fertility, climate-related production fluctuations, and limited youth engagement in the agribusiness sector. The project will focus on strengthening value chains for rice, maize, goats, pigs, and fish in the provinces of Ngozi, Kirundo, and Muyinga.
Under the partnership, ENABLE-TAAT will equip 300 youths and women with practical skills in entrepreneurship and agribusiness, connect farmer cooperatives to credit opportunities, and support the creation of microenterprises and youth-led agribusiness ventures. These efforts are designed to generate jobs, increase incomes, and contribute to greater food and nutrition security, turning agriculture into a driver of inclusive economic growth.
At the project launch on 10 August 2025, at IITA Burundi Station, Noel Mulinganya, ENABLE-TAAT Coordinator and Project Lead, highlighted IYA’s role in delivering impact, saying, “We are excited to see how this collaboration will inspire young people and farmers to transform challenges into opportunities. Through training, market linkages, and innovative solutions, we will support beneficiaries to boost productivity and build sustainable livelihoods.”
The program adopts an approach centered on promoting integrated, innovative agricultural practices while deploying climate-resilient technologies and systems. This strategy, which aligns with the Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) agenda, seeks to accelerate agricultural transformation across the continent through proven, scalable innovations and technologies.
With PADCAE-B running through June 2026, its success is expected to pave the way for scalable models of youth-focused agricultural transformation in the country, directly contributing to Burundi’s vision of improving food security and rural livelihoods.
Contributed by Jesutofunmi Robinson
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