Burundi Success Story - Suzanne Ndaboroheye

CATALIST

Burundi • DR Congo • Rwanda

Catalyze Agricultural Intensification for Social and Environmental Stability

a project for the great lakes region of central africa

Success Story

Burundian Chief Suzanne Ndaboroheye advocates that women farmers join associations to be empowered and improve their lives

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espite her own hardships, Suzanne Ndaboroheye, a 50-year-old farmer and mother of seven in the tiny colline of Munanira in the Rwegura zone of Burundi, has always wanted to help others. An active member of the Rwizumwimbu (“Raise Production”) farmers’ association, she recalls that, “I was in debt and defeated when I heard that CATALIST wanted to help farmers by providing seeds.”

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uzanne’s 15 ares (15/100 of a hectare) suffered from erosion and was underused because she often cultivated alone and could not afford sufficient seeds. As a consequence, she rarely had surplus crops to sell and was only able to plant enough to feed her family.

In 2005, concerned by the numerous land-related conflicts in her community, she was elected Deputy Chief for the Conseil des Collines, the local governing body responsible for mediating disputes. “When there is a problem, I bring people together and I try to get them to talk about their conflict,” explains Suzanne.

“Some people say that I have been successful because of power, but I laugh because it really is only about CATALIST,” she smiles. She encourages others to join an association so that they can be empowered. “When you are alone, no one takes you seriously, but as part of an association, people must listen.”

She attributes the positive changes in her life as outcomes of her association’s collaboration with the CATALIST crop intensification project. The first year CATALIST provided enough seed potatoes for ten ares. By the end of the season, she had an unprecedented two tons of potatoes. Following the project recommendations, she set aside 250 kilos of potatoes for the next season’s planting and for her family’s use. “CATALIST taught me how to select the best ones to keep for next year’s crop,” she remembers.

Suzanne then sold the remaining 1,750 kilos of potatoes on the market, making a handsome profit and promptly repaying CATALIST the entire amount that she owed for inputs. She used the remainder to buy clothes for her family and a calf, a symbol of prosperity in her community. “Now when my children go to school, people can see these are the children of a chief; they are well-clothed and eat well,” she says with pride.

Suzanne had tried using fertilizer previously, but was untrained in its proper use. “Before, we would apply urea in the beginning, but CATALIST taught us that this was wrong, that it shouldn’t be added until the weeding,” she says. “I learned a lot from the CATALIST workshops and now I have also been able to teach others as well.”

In 2009, she was able to cultivate additional fields, and planted wheat with good results. Suzanne kept 100 kilos for her family’s consumption and as seed for the next season, and managed to sell the remaining 100 kilos. “Now CATALIST is putting us in touch with microfinance institutions so we can have access to credit,” she adds. Under the terms of the credit inventory system (warrantage), her association will use its crop as collateral for loans, allowing for greater investment within the value chain.

Suzanne is most pleased with her current situation because increasing her production has meant she has time for other endeavors. “Now I don’t have to cultivate alone; I hire workers and I am able to pay them,” she says. As a result, in 2008 she joined another women’s association, becoming a trained midwife for her community.

CATALIST/SEW Henk Breman (Chief of Party) | This is a publication of the IFDC-implemented CATALIST Project. | www.ifdc-catalist.org | ifdcrwanda@ifdc.org Funding is generously provided by the Netherlands Directorate-General for Development Cooperation (DGIS).

PROJECT HEADQUARTERS

BURUNDI OFFICE

CONGO DRC OFFICE

HELPAGE CRGL

IFDC Rwanda 3064 - Akanyaru Street, Kiyovu P. O. Box 6758 - Kigali, Rwanda Telephone: +250 551 042 11

IFDC Burundi 3 - Bweru Street Rohero II P. O. Box 1995, Bujumbura Telephone: +257 22 25 78 75 +257 22 27 35 66

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Helpage Regional Headquarters B.P. 6682 - Ville de Kigali Rwanda Telephone: +250 (0)25 25 34 87 +250 (0)25 25 34 88