AKIs project manager Julia Fendel and Teklezghi Teklebrhan travelled to Burundi to visit the project “Extansion of an Agri-Social Education and Training Centre” in Gitega Burundi.

1. Meeting with the project partners Father Walter Stärk, the St. Camelius brothers “Ordre de Saint Camille” and the project committee

On the first day of the visit, Julia Fendel and Teklezghi Teklebrhan visited the project area together with the project partners and observed the activities realized so far. The successful activities such as drilling a water well and laying water pipes in the project area, which are powered by a solar pump, the expansion of the animal husbandry as well as the cultivation of further cereals, fruits and vegetables are good examples of progress in the project area.

Subsequently, AKI discussed the project activities and the way forward with the project partners (Father Walter Stärk, the St. Camelius brothers and the project committee) on site. Based on the discussion, all agreed to increase the production of wheat and maize, process the products, and add value by making bread. Training how to make quality bread will be organized in the coming weeks and a locally adapted bakery will be established. Apart from that, more animals will be bought for milk, meat, and manure production. With the additional income generated, the project is expected to become self-sustaining in the future.

2. Visiting the University of Bujumbura Faculty of Agronomy and Bio - engineering “Faculté d'Agronomie et de Bio-Ingenierie-FABI”

Prof. Mr. Nijimbere Séverin (dean of Fuculty of Agronomy and Bioengineering), Prof. Ms. Habonimana Bernadette (lecturer), Prof. Mr. Nduwunana André (lecturer) and Prof. Mr. Koboneka Salvator (lecturer) welcomed the AKI project managers Teklezghi Teklebrhan and Julia Fendel at the university in Bujumbura. The project managers introduced AgrarKontakte International (AKI) e.V and the project “Establishment of an Agri-Social Education and Training Centre” in Gitega. In the future the agricultural students of “FABI” will visit the project area to gain hands-on experience with sustainable agriculture.

3. Visiting the German “Sparkassenstiftung” Eastern Africa in Bujumbura

AKI's project managers met Eva Pressl, Deputy Country Director, and Irene Inayange, Country Director of the German Sparkassenstiftung Ostafrika in Bujumbura, Burundi, to discuss a possible cooperation. The German Sparkassenstiftung East Africa in Burundi agreed to train the staff of the  “Extension of an Agri-Social Education and Training Centre" in Gitega in financial basics such as income and expenditure, savings and loans. After completion of the training, another training on Sparkassenstiftung's "Farmers Business Game" will follow by the end of 2022, whereby the staff will learn more about financing a farm.

With the establishment of the bread value chain and training in bookkeeping, the first basic building block for a self-sustaining project is to be created.

Julia Fendel and Teklezghi Teklebrhan drew a positive balance of their visit: The discussions with the project committee and the project partners were very successful and satisfying and the project managers are optimistic that the further activities for this year can be implemented very well.