By the Editorial Team
Since taking office in June 2020, Évariste Ndayishimiye has placed agriculture at the heart of his national development agenda. In a country where the majority of the population depends on farming for its livelihood, the Head of State considers the agricultural sector the primary engine for wealth creation, poverty reduction, and food sovereignty.
This vision is fully aligned with Burundi’s Vision 2040–2060, an ambitious roadmap aimed at transforming the country into an emerging and prosperous nation through a productive economy driven largely by the modernization of agriculture.
A President Leading by Example
Unlike many leaders who merely advocate agricultural development through speeches, President Ndayishimiye regularly uses his own farms to demonstrate the results that can be achieved through modern farming practices.
During government holidays, he personally takes part in agricultural activities. “For me, holidays simply mean a change of activity,” he has often remarked. On his farm in Bugarama, the President showcased the profitability of well-managed agriculture by harvesting more than 50 tons of potatoes from 2.3 hectares using 4.5 tons of seed potatoes.
His hands-on approach is intended to inspire Burundian farmers by proving that agriculture can become a profitable business when modern techniques, improved seeds, and proper farm management are applied.
Modernizing Agriculture Through Research and Innovation
President Ndayishimiye has also strengthened cooperation between scientific research and agricultural production. Working closely with the Institute of Agronomic Sciences of Burundi, the government supports the multiplication of improved seeds, greenhouse farming, and the development of higher-yield and climate-resilient crop varieties.
The objective is to increase agricultural productivity while improving the sector’s resilience to climate change and ensuring long-term food security.
Record Public Investment in Agriculture
Burundi has backed this vision with unprecedented public investment. Nearly 13 percent of the national budget is now allocated to the agro-pastoral sector, exceeding the 10 percent benchmark recommended by the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP).
These investments finance:
Fertilizer subsidies;
Improved seed distribution;
Agricultural projects led by young entrepreneurs and cooperatives;
Programs designed to improve access to fertilizers while combating shortages and market speculation.
The government’s strategy seeks to make agricultural inputs more accessible to farmers across the country and significantly boost production.
Food Self-Sufficiency as a National Priority
Under President Ndayishimiye’s leadership, Burundi has made notable progress toward food self-sufficiency. Maize production has become one of the country’s major success stories, with national output now exceeding domestic demand and generating production surpluses.
This achievement reflects the country’s growing capacity to secure its own food supply while laying the foundation for future agricultural exports.
A Nationwide Mobilization Around Agriculture
The official launch of the 2025–2026 Agricultural Season A on October 27, 2025, at the National Seed Multiplication Center of ISABU in Nyabisindu demonstrated the government’s determination to mobilize the entire nation.
Held under the theme, “Inspired by the National Vision, Let Us Unite to Increase Food Production,” the campaign included the distribution of improved seeds and farming equipment to agricultural cooperatives while emphasizing the importance of protecting and maximizing the use of arable land.
President Ndayishimiye also urged every able-bodied citizen to contribute actively to agricultural production. He encouraged civil servants to devote part of their free time to farming and called on owners of idle land to cultivate it or allow productive cooperatives to make use of it for the benefit of the nation.
A Commitment Extending Across Africa
Burundi’s agricultural ambitions extend beyond its borders. In January 2025, during the Extraordinary Summit of the African Union on Agriculture held in Kampala, President Ndayishimiye reaffirmed Burundi’s commitment to implementing the new CAADP Strategy for 2026–2035.
His participation highlighted Burundi’s determination to contribute to Africa’s broader effort to build more productive, competitive, and sustainable agricultural systems.
Agriculture as the Foundation of Burundi’s Development
Within just a few years, agriculture has evolved from being a traditional economic sector into the cornerstone of Burundi’s national development strategy.
Through sustained public investment, agricultural modernization, scientific innovation, stronger support for cooperatives, and his own personal example in the fields, President Évariste Ndayishimiye is demonstrating his belief that Burundi’s future prosperity depends on unlocking the full potential of its agricultural sector.
For the Burundian government, combating hunger, creating rural employment, and accelerating economic transformation all begin with one fundamental principle: a nation capable of feeding its own people is a nation capable of building lasting prosperity. Agriculture has therefore become not only an economic priority but the very foundation of Burundi’s long-term vision for sustainable development.
