Look what you built…
…a place to store harvests in Burundi
Thesafe.aim of a harvest store is to ensure protection (against rats, water and theft), to stack and store harvests, and be able to reduce losses and increase production. The community brings their seeds or harvest to the store and knows that it will be safe and guarded. The local cooperative in Cendajuru analysed their needs and problems and realised a harvest store will be a good solution. They approached Lutheran World Federation (LWF) to help them build it. This is where your help came in…
We asked you to help us build Harvest stores in Burundi to keep farmers’ harvests
When the community members arrive at the store they weigh their harvest, fill in a form and give a part of the harvest to the management committee. This allows the committee to buy pesticides and pay for security. Cooperative members and community members can then come when they want to buy or use the stock. The store belongs to the cooperative but the whole community benefits as people from the neighboring villages can also use it. The store can stock up to 90-100 tons.
“Before,ourhusbandsusedtodiscussdirectlywithretailerswithoutaskingus first.Theretailerwasgivingmoneytogopicktheharvestdirectlyinthefield. Now,weharvestandbringtheharvesttothestorefirst.Thereisbettercontrol, moreprofitandlessconflict. Anotherbenefitisthatitwashardtoborrowseedsbefore.Now,wecanborrow seedsandgivethemoneybackaftertheharvest.”
LéonieMANIRAKIZA
“Iamthankfulforthisharveststore. Before,wekeptourharvestathomeanduseditwheneverweneededitwithout managingitproperly.Sincewehavethestore,weareabletomanagethe quantitiesbetter. Wealsoknowthereareseedsavailableforthenextseason,whichmakesit easiertodoanotheractivityontheside.” JudithNDABARUSHIMANA
“Iamold,sothisstoremakesmylifeeasier. Asamember,Icancomeandbuyricedirectlytosellitatthemarketandmake Forprofit.now,everythingisgoingwellwiththegroupandthestoreiswell managed. Weareveryhappyaboutit!” ImmaculéeMANIRAMBONA
Lending a hand to extend and expand Mishiha, a commune with another cooperative of 570 members, missed receiving some funding last year because their existing store was too small and did not meet the requirements to qualify. With your help through LWF they planned the rehabilitation and extension of their store, and now they will receive extra funding for micro-financing.
“Withthiscredit,wewillbuymoresorgho,beansandriceandstoreit.When thepricegoesup,wewillsellwhatwestoredandmakeaprofit.” Wealsoneedanewscalebecausetheonewecurrentlyhaveisnotstrong enoughforthebigbagsthatwehave,withtheprofitswemakewewillbeable tobuyit. Wealsoplantovisitothercooperativestolearnmorefromthem.”
ElyséeTUYISENUE (vicepresidentofthecooperative)
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“Forevery600kilosofharvest,weaskourmemberstogive3kilostothe Thiscooperative.allowsustopayforasecurityguardandanemployeethatistakingcare ofthestoreandourstock.” MédardHABIMANA–isthestorekeeper
“Asthepresident,Ithinkaboutourfutureactivities,Iorganizemeetingsand solveissues. Thecooperative’sfieldrepresents16hectares,3hectaresofsorgho,and13 hectaresofmanioc.Inaddition,westoreourmembers’harvestandwe currentlystock800kilosofmaizeand500kilosofbeansfromthecommunity’s supportstherehabilitationandextensionofthestore.Thankstothis, wewillbeabletogrowanddevelopouractivities.Thenewstorewillallowus tohavemorespaceavailable. Wewillbuyahuskingmachinesowedon’tneedtogotothemarkettodothis. Wewillalsobuyanewmachinetoirrigateourfields.Wealsoplantobuya trucktohelpusmovebigquantitiesofsorgho. Iwanttothankthedonorswhomadethishappenforus.”
Thefields.LWF
Saûdi NSENGIYUNVA, President
Thank you! Photos : LWF/Léa Gillabert … for the lives you touch, and the hope and big smiles this brings. Your investment strengthens a community for many years – managing harvests to support their families. ALWS acknowledges the support of the Australian Government through the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP).
