The National Coordination of Farmers’ Organizations of Burundi (CNOP-Burundi) has taken a significant step in restructuring and revitalizing its member agricultural cooperatives. With the support of IFAD, through the implementation of the FO4ACP project by PROPAC, CNOP-Burundi has successfully welcomed more than 103 active and dynamic agricultural cooperatives operating on the ground. This marks a first in the organization’s history.
These cooperatives, some of which are exemplary agricultural cooperatives in Burundi, were formally welcomed during a special ceremony by the president of CNOP-Burundi, Mr. Alexis Habonimana, the executive director of CNOP-Burundi, Dr. Jean Claude Sabushimike, and the FO4ACP project manager, Mr. Tatien Barumbanze, in the presence of provincial and communal authorities.
This massive membership results from an awareness campaign conducted by CNOP-Burundi across all country provinces. Many cooperatives were self-formed locally and expressed their desire to join a national farmers’ organization. In response to this enthusiasm, CNOP-Burundi has decentralized into three regional consultations of farmers’ organizations and agricultural cooperatives, covering 18 provinces. These include:
- The Regional Consultation of Farmers’ Organizations and Agricultural Cooperatives of Burunga and Buhumuza (CROCABB),
- The Regional Consultation of Farmers’ Organizations and Agricultural Cooperatives of Gitega and Butanyerera (CROPCAGB),
- The Regional Consultation of Farmers’ Organizations and Agricultural Cooperatives of Bujumbura (CROPCABU).
By joining CNOP-Burundi, these 103 agricultural cooperatives expressed their expectations during these three restructuring sessions. They notably expect CNOP-Burundi to help them promote local farmer seeds, secure guarantee funds for small agricultural loans and risk subsidies, and explore markets for their agricultural products.
CNOP-Burundi, which remains open to other agricultural cooperatives, also outlined its expectations. It aims to inform the public that its 2023-2026 strategic plan considers CNOP-Burundi’s contribution to an emerging Burundi by 2040 and a developed Burundi by 2060. It also invites PROPAC and IFAD to visit these agricultural cooperatives to recognize the urgent need to integrate CNOP-Burundi into the first component of the FO4ACP program, which prioritizes economic services for cooperatives.
CNOP-Burundi seeks the support of all organizations working in the agricultural sector in Burundi and the Great Lakes region and is open to any form of collaboration to promote agricultural development in Burundi.
Article from PROPAC website (article in French)