As part of the implementation of the project, “Promotion of Agroforestry to improve food security in East Africa”, agricultural land is protected against erosion by protective devices consisting of channels for the retention and infiltration of rainwater and anti-erosive plant species (herbs and trees that fix the soil). Farmers have been trained and supervised in watershed management techniques. Thus, level curves with a linear length of 17.7 km were created on the watersheds of Rwegura (6.2 km), Yanza (4 km) and Ruvumu (7.5 km).

On the Rwegura, Yanza and Ruvumu hills in Muruta commune of Kayanza province, agricultural production is low due to the harmful effects of severe water and/or wind erosion on steeply sloping land, without protective devices and the lack of fertilizers to amend the soil. The high population density in almost all the Municipalities of Kayanza Province and the low rate of vegetation cover amplified by the massive use of wood by local communities constitute another threat to the ecological balance.

The farm size of most households in Muruta Commune is smaller than the average farm size of Burundian households (0.5 ha), which means that there are repeated famines. The “Promotion of Agroforestry to Improve Food Security in East Africa” project by ISABU intends to address the problems of recurrent famines by developing three model peasant farms that will serve as training fields directly involving community leaders in raising awareness and coaching all households in the three respective hills mentioned above and those surrounding them to implement approaches to protect and improve soil fertility.