Thirty-year-old Burundian entrepreneur Jean Marie Habimana is making remarkable strides in the country’s agriculture sector. Shortly after graduating university, he began his career in agriculture, focusing on potato seed multiplication in Mwaro Province.
Before, Habimana had cultivated 4 hectares of land per season, producing 40 tons of seed potatoes and 6 tons of large-caliber seeds for consumption.
He sought to grow his business but faced challenges along the way. For example, with only one small shed, his growth was limited by inadequate storage as well as by financial constraints, earning 40 million Burundian francs (approximately U.S. $13,429) per year.
His situation began to change when the Private Seed Sector Development (PSSD) project offered co-financing support and assistance to expand his potato seed production area from 4 to 6 hectares.
“I thank IFDC and the PSSD project for supporting seed entrepreneurs through co-financing, capacity building on good agricultural practices, increasing seed production, and facilitating access to quality seeds in sufficient quantities for small producers.”
Jean Marie Habimana
Additionally, PSSD also helped Habimana market his seeds by organizing mini-fairs, which further benefited smallholder farmers from neighboring provinces such as Bururi, Muramvya, and parts of Gitega with local access to quality seeds.
As a result of these efforts, Habimana earned over 80 million Burundian francs (approximately U.S. $27, 142) in seed sales.
Today, Habimana no longer relies on co-financing. Operating independently, he now cultivates 8 hectares of potato seeds each season in the provinces of Gitega and Burunga in addition to Mwaro Province. His operations have also expanded to supply potato seeds nationally, and he has constructed a new storage facility with a capacity of 100 tons of potatoes.
Initially, he would earn around 40 million Burundian francs per year, but now he generates over 150 million Burundian francs (approximately U.S. $50,362) per year with his expanded business.
Habimana shared his gratitude, stating, “I thank IFDC and the PSSD project for supporting seed entrepreneurs through co-financing, capacity building on good agricultural practices, increasing seed production, and facilitating access to quality seeds in sufficient quantities for small producers.”
Habimana’s journey illustrates how targeted support and innovation can empower young entrepreneurs to accelerate sustainable agricultural businesses and strengthen local food systems.
The Private Seed Sector Development (PSSD) project (2018-2026), funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and implemented by the International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC), aims to increase the production and incomes of 178,000 farmer households in Burundi. The project works with private and public sector partners to promote the development of a private sector-led seed industry that is able to provide farmers with sustainable access to high-quality seed and agricultural advisory services.
