Least developed countries - the case of Burundi

Abstract

Th e contribution is focused on the food problem in the least developed countries, on the chosen areas where the overall situation is the most problematic. It deals with Burundi, belonging to the low income food defi cit countries with one of the world’s lowest rates of the gross domestic product per capita. Th e paper defi nes the food security situation in the global connection, representing a wide complex of economic, social, demographic, technologic and political aspects of production, distribution, shift and consumption of foodstuff s. Th e inter-related causes of food insecurity are mainly the long lasting civil wars, a limited access to land, environmental degradation, climatic shocks and the rapid population growth resulting from the high birth rates and the return of refugees. Subsistence crops and livestock products represent the main source of income for most households. Th e performance of these subsectors is very low, and generates chronic food defi cits. Agriculture is thus the key sector in the predominantly rural economies and there is still a signifi cant room for growth, diversifi cation, increasing productivity and improving competitiveness.