Look what you built…
We asked you to help us build Harvest stores in Burundi to keep farmers’ harvests safe.
The 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. 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 90100 tons.
…a place to store harvests in Burundi
“Before,ourhusbandsusedtodiscuss directlywithretailerswithoutaskingus first.Theretailerwasgivingmoneytogo picktheharvestdirectlyinthefield. Now,weharvestandbringtheharvestto thestorefirst.Thereisbettercontrol, moreprofitandlessconflict. Anotherbenefitisthatitwashardto borrowseedsbefore.Now,wecanborrow seedsandgivethemoneybackafterthe harvest.” LéonieMANIRAKIZA
“Iamthankfulforthisharveststore. Before,wekeptourharvestathomeand useditwheneverweneededitwithout managingitproperly.Sincewehavethe store,weareabletomanagethequantities Webetter.alsoknowthereareseedsavailablefor thenextseason,whichmakesiteasierto doanotheractivityontheside.” JudithNDABARUSHIMANA
“Iamold,sothisstoremakesmylife Aseasier.amember,Icancomeandbuyrice directlytosellitatthemarketandmake Forprofit.now,everythingisgoingwellwiththe groupandthestoreiswellmanaged. Weareveryhappyaboutit!” ImmaculéeMANIRAMBONA
Lending a hand to extend and expand In Mishiha - another cooperative with 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.Whentheprice goesup,wewillsellwhatwestoredand makeaprofit.” Wealsoneedanewscalebecausetheone wecurrentlyhaveisnotstrongenoughfor thebigbagsthatwehave,withtheprofits wemakewewillbeabletobuyit. Wealsoplantovisitothercooperativesto learnmorefromthem.” ElyséeTUYISENUE (vicepresidentofthecooperative)
“Forevery600kilosofharvest,weaskour membertogive3kilostothecooperative. Thisallowsustopayforasecurityguard andanemployeethatistakingcareofthe storeandourstock.” MédardHABIMANA–isthestorekeeper
Saûdi NSENGIYUNVA, President “Asthepresident,Ithinkaboutourfutureactivities,I organizemeetingsandsolveissues. Thecooperative’sfieldrepresents16hectares,3 hectaresofsorgho,and13hectaresofmanioc.In addition,westoreourmembers’harvestandwe currentlystock800kilosofmaizeand500kilosof beansfromthecommunity’sfields. TheLWFsupportstherehabilitationandextensionof thestore.Thankstothis,wewillbeabletogrowand developouractivities.Thenewstorewillallowusto havemorespaceavailable. Wewillbuyahuskingmachinesowedon’tneedtogo tothemarkettodothis.Wewillalsobuyanew machinetoirrigateourfields.Wealsoplantobuya trucktohelpusmovebigquantitiesofsorgho. Iwanttothankthedonorswhomadethishappenfor us. ”
Thank you! … for the lives you touch and the hope and big smiles, this Yourbrings.investment strengthens a community for many years – managing harvests to support their families. Photos : LWF Burundi
