Bananas are the mainstay of the rural economy of Burundian households thanks to the relatively regular income they derive from their marketing. They contribute to ensuring a certain stability for the family economy and for local development through the products generated, which are self-consumed or traded at the hill level. Bananas are also the most traded food crop at different levels: local and national markets but also in the form of regional exchanges.
The main banana production areas are located in the Northeast (Kayanza, Ngozi, Kirundo, and Muyinga provinces), the West (Cibitoke, Bubanza, and Kayanza provinces), and peri-urban areas (Bujumbura Rural and other areas surrounding the main cities in the Northeast and West).
The banana sector development activity began in 2019, targeting a total of 12,280 households in the aforementioned areas favorable to banana production. The feasibility study carried showed that when produced organically, banana ripe and their juice taste more than the honey keeping natural health ingredients required. The project is being piloted in Cibitoke province, Mugina, Mabayi, and Murwi communes. More than 2,000 farmers are being incubated on family lands. The project plans to expand to other provinces, including the creation of outreach centers that will provide opportunities for young people who want to develop this value chain on public lands due to limited access to arable land to boost the entrepreneurship around the value chain.
