The Food Security Enhancement Project, funded by the German organization Bread for the World (PPLM), targets widows and orphans in Murengeza Hill, Mpanda Commune, Bubanza Province. The project aims to strengthen food security, improve nutrition, and enhance the economic resilience of vulnerable households through agro-ecological practices and sustainable livestock farming.
Beneficiaries
- 120 households, of which 75% are women/girls and 25% men/boys.
- Households are organized into 4 production groups, each led by a group leader supported by an agricultural extension officer.
Main Activities
- Agro-Ecological Capacity Building and Household Follow-Up
- 33 practical demonstration sessions (6 hours each) on agro-ecological techniques, including row planting, use of improved seeds, organic fertilization, and proper crop spacing.
- Regular monitoring visits: the agricultural officer visits each household at least 4 times per week to ensure proper application of learned practices.
- Technical manuals for eight crops (watermelon, soybean, tomato, maize, rice, beans, cabbage, and eggplant) were provided to group leaders and the agricultural officer.
- Provision of Agricultural Inputs and Livestock
- Seeds: beans (500 kg), maize (75 kg), soybean (100 kg), rice (50 kg), vegetables (20 kg), and 8,800 sweet potato cuttings.
- Fertilizers: 38 bags of organic fertilizer and 35 FOMI fertilizer bags (IMBURA, BAGARA, TOTAHAZA).
- Livestock: 120 goats and 120 chickens to support household economies and generate organic manure.
- Veterinary kits and livestock management training provided to all beneficiary households.
- Economic Empowerment and Organizational Capacity
- Training for 20 group representatives on climate-resilient agro-ecology, organic fertilization, and the creation/management of savings and credit groups (SHG approach).
- Experience-sharing visits with beneficiaries of the Caritas Muyinga project to exchange best practices in agriculture and group management.
- Capacity-building sessions for leaders on market access and trade, connecting producers with local input suppliers and buyers.
- Nutrition and Balanced Diets
- Culinary demonstration workshops for households with children under five, focusing on balanced nutrition, food preparation, and preservation.
- Households learned to prepare meals that combine carbohydrates, proteins, fats, and vitamins for balanced diets.
Expected Outcomes and Impact
- Adoption of good agro-ecological practices by all 120 households, resulting in increased agricultural productivity.
- Improved food security and production of nutrient-rich crops.
- Enhanced economic empowerment through livestock rearing and savings/credit groups.
- Strengthened female leadership and inclusion, with 75% of participants being women.
- Beneficiary households establishing connections with local markets and traders, facilitating the sale of their produce.