How beans are beating hunger in Burundi

Burundi’s population has been expanding
far faster than its economy. And while the
agriculture sector contributes around 40%
of GDP and to over 95% of food supplies,
high pressure on land is leading to soil
fertility depletion, eroding the country’s
capacity to ramp up food production for a
growing population.
The Flagship project: “Improving food
security, nutrition, incomes, natural
resource base and gender equity for better
livelihoods of smallholder households in
sub-Saharan Africa” between 2015 and
2020, sought to boost bean production
and yields as a staple crop. Already an
important food crop in the country, beans
provide 50% of daily protein and 20% of
calories. Improved bean varieties with
high levels of iron and zinc also alleviate
micronutrient deficiencies particularly
in children and women. Beans also help
farmers threatened by climate change
to stagger food supply through harsher
seasons, with edible leaves and pods
allowing growers to sell or store dry beans.
While bean volumes rank only after sweet
potato and bananas in the country, lowyielding
varieties were grown on around
half of all land. Yields also declined during
periods of political instability between 1993
and 2005. However, in recent years, yields
have recovered in part due to efforts of the
Pan-Africa Bean Research Alliance and
partners, releasing 23 climate resilient highyielding,
nutrient rich and farmer preferred
varieties between 2015 and 2019.