Burundian President Évariste Ndayishimiye has reaffirmed his commitment to placing agriculture at the heart of national development, as outlined in the country’s Vision 2040–2060 plan.
During a symbolic visit to his personal farm in Bugarama, in Muramvya commune, Gitega province, the Head of State demonstrated his philosophy of leadership by example.
Accompanied by First Lady Angeline Ndayubaha, President Ndayishimiye participated in the harvest of potatoes from his 2.3-hectare plot, which was cultivated using 4.5 tons of seeds.
Expectations for the yield hover around 50 tons—an output he believes signals the transformative potential of modern, productive farming.
“Vacation means a change of activities,” the President remarked, underscoring the necessity for national leaders to engage in agriculture beyond rhetoric.
As a registered seed multiplier, he announced plans to collaborate with the Burundi Institute of Agricultural Sciences (ISABU) to advance greenhouse farming and improve crop efficiency.
The president also issued a strong message to landowners, urging them to either cultivate their unused land or risk having it reassigned to agricultural cooperatives.
The directive, he emphasized, aims to maximize productivity and support food security.
Ndayishimiye praised the increasing participation of Burundian intellectuals in agro-pastoral ventures, highlighting their contributions as essential to economic transformation.
He urged citizens across all sectors to shift their focus toward high-impact industries capable of driving the nation toward middle-income status.
The presidential day concluded with a visit to a nearby two-hectare wheat field, reinforcing the administration’s vision of agriculture as not just a means of subsistence, but the engine of Burundi’s long-term development and self-reliance.
About The Author
