Agricultural Land Access and Use in Burundi

Abstract

Agricultural land accessibility and use in Burundi has been reviewed and analyzed in this study. SWOT and SOR analysis have been used to examine its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats and some strategies that can lead to sustainable agriculture have been determined. It has been observed that Burundi has a serious problem with agricultural land atomicity. More than 40% of agricultural households cultivate plots less than 0.25 ha. Kayanza and Ngozi are most densely populated provinces. 44% of the agricultural land is on sloping hills and a total of 145.3 tons/ha of arable land is lost every year. However, thanks to the efforts of land development projects, arable land has increased and reached 79.17% of total area of the country in 2018. Unfortunately, it has been shown that the growth rate of agricultural production over the last decade was lower (2%) than the population growth rate (2.6%-3%). It is desirable to implement a land consolidation policy, especially in densely populated areas. For eroded soils, it is ideal to strengthen anti-erosion practices to protect soils and save water. Government of Burundi and NGOs should support agricultural sector by disseminating methods and techniques that will ensure sustainable management of agricultural land.