Farmers in the central province of Muramvya in Burundi are desperate to access international markets for their products in efforts to expand their production of fruits and vegetables.
Muramvya province is well known of being favorable of growing vegetables which are mainly found around the areas of Bugarama. Crops such as potatoes, wheat and many others are also grown in that region thanks to its geographic location and the weather conditions.
Salvator Bigirimana is a farmer in one of the valleys along Mubarazi river, not far from Bugarama. He grows potatoes, carrots, cabages, maize, and courgettes, he said that the provincial administration helps farmers in finding markets for potatoes, but they still have the issue of finding the grocery market for their vegetables.
“Vegetables such as carrots or courgettes spend between two and three months to grow before harvest. And can not resist for long before they go bad after harvest, because they can go between one and two weeks in a fridge,” he said.
Salvator said that they need a market outside the country because of their harvest has increased in the volume over the years.
“Sometimes we harvest large quantity of vegetables which the local market cannot absorb,” said Mr. Bigirimana.
Aside the lack of bigger market , farmers in Muramvya lack proper storage facilities to store their products which can keep them fresh and good for longer period.
