Burundi

Burundi is a small landlocked country in East Africa with a predominantly rural population heavily dependent on agriculture.

The agriculture sector is a significant contributor to the country’s economy. Farming activities account for nearly 30% of GDP with at least 80% of the population’s livelihoods tied to the sector. Coffee is one of the main cash crops and exports, with specialty coffee representing an opportunity to improve incomes for Burundian producers. 

TechnoServe works with farmers and businesses across Burundi’s coffee ecosystem through its Burundi Better Coffee Initiative (BBCI). By supporting a more sustainable and inclusive coffee sector, BBCI aims to improve the livelihoods of 60,000 smallholder coffee farmers and increase Burundi’s competitiveness in the specialty coffee market. TechnoServe’s Coffee Practice leverages market demand for responsibly produced, high-quality coffee to build the capacity of value chain actors. This approach promotes business development towards sustainable livelihoods.

The economy needs to diversify and increase value-creating activities, taking advantage of new strategic opportunities to generate prosperity. Agriculture provides a unique opportunity to bolster employment, entrepreneurship, and food security, and the cashew sector in particular is ripe for success. TechnoServe is working to expand economic opportunities in Benin by helping farmers, agribusinesses, and entrepreneurs to raise their production levels and connect with lucrative markets, while creating jobs in rural areas.