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The Société Coopérative de Transformation et Commercialisation des Produits Agricoles (SOCOPA) aims to contribute to increasing agricultural production and to ensure that small-scale producers benefit from the added value of processed food products in Burundi. This objective is shared with a number of international actors who facilitate the implementation of agricultural processing units, and later SIDI and AFD, which aim to facilitate access to financing and support in the development of the structure (supply, processing, marketing) for SOCOPA. SOCOPA, a company, was therefore created in 2015 with the financial support of cooperative societies that joined the project, notably by bringing in fixed assets from international donors.
Burundi is a small, landlocked country (27,834 km²), densely populated (approximately 10.5 million inhabitants and 403 inhabitants/km²). Agriculture employs 90% of the population and contributes 50% to the national GDP. Arable land is becoming increasingly scarce. Under these conditions, poverty is primarily rural (71.1%) and essentially affects small-scale farmers. Most of the country’s agricultural production in terms of rice, cassava, and maize is for self-consumption. It is generally considered that in Burundi, agriculture’s contribution to the food supply is 95%. Imports cover a portion of the needs, particularly in urban areas.
To date, eight processing units for five main agricultural products (rice, cassava, maize, tomatoes, and bananas) have been established from the North to the South of Burundi (Rugombo, Gihanga, Maramvya, Nyanzalac, Kayogoro, Masanganzira, Ruyigi). Sales have now reached nearly €280,000, showing growth over the past three years. These sales take place primarily in urban areas. A staff of 64 people (including six at the headquarters) contributes to the company’s operations, with most of them working in the processing units.
