The Anglican Church of Burundi has been training farmers to improve rice yields as part of efforts to combat food insecurity in the country. The two-year project has been run in partnership with Episcopal Relief & Development, the overseas development agency of the US-based Episcopal Church. Growing rice has been the main activity for people living along side Lake Tanganyika for many years; but the lack of improved techniques and seeds has caused low production and farmers could not expect to gain much from it.<\/p>\n
Through the project, farmers have been trained and equipped with agricultural techniques and materials to improve rice production. \u201cAlready the farmers are seeing changes in agricultural production and consequently in their daily lives,\u201d the province said in its newsletter.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur situation has improved since we no longer cultivate the rice just for consumption,\u201d farmer Esperance Ndayishimiye, said. \u201cI\u2019m now able to meet easily my family\u2019s needs. I pay school fees for my children. I have bought lands and built houses.\u201d she said.<\/p>\n