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The Confédération des Associations des Producteurs Agricoles pour le Développement (CAPAD) was initiated by groups of rural farmers and breeders who had been working together since 2000. It builds the capacity of farmers’ organizations to help develop agricultural production and improve living conditions in rural areas. Nearly 108 agricultural production cooperatives, representing some 108,000 family farm households, work with CAPAD.
“Burundi is a small, landlocked country (27,834km²) with a high population density (around 10.5 million inhabitants and 403 inhabitants/km²). Agriculture employs 90% of the population and contributes 50% to the national GDP. Arable land is becoming increasingly scarce. As a result, poverty is predominantly rural (71.1%) and mainly affects small farmers.
Most of the country’s agricultural production of rice, manioc and maize is self-consumed. Overall, it is estimated that agriculture contributes 95% of Burundi’s food supply. Imports cover part of the needs of urban areas in particular. Burundi’s market is for processed products from the EAC (East African Community) and elsewhere.
CAPAD supports around 15,000 farmers by facilitating their access to training (including the use of agro-ecology) and to the market through group sales, in particular to SOCOPA.
