Burundi woman leads cooperative to scale up rice and fish farming

Gérardine Irakoze, a 26-year-old entrepreneur, leads the Coopérative agro-pastorale et commerciale de Buramata (Capcobu) in the Bujumbura province of Burundi.

After graduating in management informatics and facing unemployment, Irakoze used the internet to research rizipisciculture, a method of combining fish farming with rice cultivation. She convinced a group of 45 young people to start the project with limited resources on a small plot of land.

The cooperative utilizes a symbiotic system where fish feed on algae and weeds in the rice fields, while their waste fertilizes the soil. To further enhance production, the group built chicken coops above the fish ponds. The coop uses the chicken manure to fertilize the rice crops. This integrated approach reduces the need for manual weeding and chemical fertilizers, resulting in organic rice that local residents prefer for its taste.

The project expanded after the cooperative received an 8 million FBu credit from the Programme d’autonomisation économique et d’emploi des jeunes (PAEEJ). This funding allowed the group to increase their land use from 4 to 25 ares. The initiative now employs over 20 people and provides labor opportunities for 45 more. The cooperative also operates a mill that offers rice husking at a lower price than local competitors, providing a community service while supplying feed for the cooperative's animals.

Irakoze plans to expand the project's footprint further. She encourages other young people to use digital tools to learn new skills and create their own businesses rather than waiting for government jobs. The cooperative also intends to offer fish on credit to employees who want to start their own farming ventures.