IRRI Director General`s visit in Burundi underlines the need to foster collaboration

IRRI News

To strengthen the partnership between the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and Burundi, IRRI Director General Dr. Jean Balié visited the IRRI-Burundi office from December 10-11, 2022. The visit underscores IRRI’s active role in the development of the rice sector of the country, and of the Sub-Saharan African region.

During his visit, he met with the Minister of Environment, Agriculture and Livestock, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation, the Director General of ISABU  (Institut des Sciences Agronomiques du Burundi / Burundi Institute of Agricultural Sciences), the Director General of SRDI (Société Régionale de Développement de l’Imbo / Imbo Regional Development Corporation), and the Rector of the National University of Burundi.

IRRI DG Dr. Balié acknowledged the high level of collaboration between IRRI-Burundi and its partners, the recognition and trust partners are displaying for IRRI which is the basis of good success as he stated, “Success is not possible without partnership.”

The IRRI Director General was accompanied by Dr. Abdelbagi M. Ismail (Principal Scientist and IRRI - Africa Representative) and Dr. Ajay Panchbhai (Regional Breeding Lead - East and Southern Africa Seed Systems and Product Management Lead - Africa) during his stay.

The recent visit also highlighted a set of goals of the partnership between IRRI and Burundi. These goals include:

• - To make sure that IRRI stays aligned with His Excellency the President of the Republic of Burundi when he stated, “each mouth has to get food and each pocket has to get some money.” Rice should be a platform to transform the lives of farmers’ families and all communities depending on them.
•  
• - Gender inclusion: all communities need to understand the critical role of women in the rice production system and try to empower them.
•  
• - Sustainability in the midst of climate change: make sure to have varieties that would cope well with stresses.
•  
• - To focus on the transformation of agriculture, that is the new technologies the country may need to face the current challenges.
•  
• - Need to strengthen the capacity-building aspect with our partners.
•  
• - Set up a mechanism to regularly assess the state of the cooperation between IRRI-Burundi and its partners.

https://www.irri.org/news-and-events/news/irri-director-general%E2%80%99s-visit-burundi-underlines-need-foster-collaboration