By Bokim Beni Nihoze
founder and CEO of Trade Legacy Burundi
Youth Entrepreneur at LLDC3
Trade, to me, is more than just the exchange of goods and services; it is a powerful engine for economic growth, innovation, and social change
Growing up in the vibrant markets of Bujumbura, I developed a deep fascination with trade and its impact on communities. This passion guided me from local markets to those at the continental level, like the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Business Forum. Trade, to me, is more than just the exchange of goods and services; it is a powerful engine for economic growth, innovation, and social change. This belief led to the establishment of Trade Legacy Burundi in 2021, a venture aimed at transforming the agricultural sector and uplifting small-scale farmers in Burundi.
The story behind Trade Legacy Burundi is borne out of a desire to address the systemic challenges faced by small-scale farmers in Burundi. Over 90% of the population relies on subsistence agriculture, yet many struggle with low productivity due to traditional farming methods, limited market access, and inadequate infrastructure. Often, these farmers use archaic techniques, such as burning grasses for land clearing, which harm the environment and degrade soil quality.
Our mission is to empower these farmers by providing resources, training, and market connections. Since our inception, we have partnered with over 178 farmers, helping them transition from subsistence to commercial agriculture. One success story is Mr. Ntahiraja, who tripled his cassava production after receiving our training, allowing him to send his children to school for the first time. Our approach also includes advocating for environmental sustainability, teaching irrigation techniques to combat climate change, and promoting the use of solar energy to power farms.
Encountering and overcoming specific challenges in LLDCs.
Operating in a Landlocked Developing Country like Burundi presents significant challenges for farm produce, particularly due to inadequate infrastructure. Poor road networks and limited energy access increase transportation costs and restrict the ability for farmers to scale. Even when farmers manage to sell their products, the supply chain remains expensive and complicated, impacting profitability.
To address these challenges, a key solution is to focus on optimizing supply chains. Another is to leverage regional trade agreements, like the AfCFTA, to improve market access and reduce costs in neighbouring markets. However, for farmers to take advantage of these opportunities they need more support. We see great potential in platforms that provide farmers with real-time market data, secure payments, and sustainable farming resources.
Capacity building is a powerful tool for farmers.
Capacity building is central to our mission. Empowering farmers with knowledge and skills is as critical as providing them with resources. Through our training programs, we have facilitated knowledge exchange by organizing visits where farmers from Karusi Province engage with their peers in neighboring countries. These experience-sharing interactions allow them to observe and adapt best practices in agriculture, which they can apply in Burundi to enhance their farming techniques and move towards more profitable practices.
These cross-border approaches are central to our work at Trade Legacy. By engaging with initiatives like the AfCFTA, we are expanding market reach and contributing to LLDCs' economic resilience. We aim to support farmers to increase exports to gain foreign currency, which will be used to import necessary fertilizers currently sourced from countries like China, Turkey and Morocco. By boosting exports, we hope to alleviate challenges in acquiring these crucial resources.
Collaboration is key.
To unlock the full potential of LLDCs, collaboration between the private sector, governments, and development partners is essential. Governments can play a pivotal role by streamlining cross-border trade policies, reducing bureaucratic red tape, and investing in infrastructure. Development partners can provide technical assistance, funding, and platforms needed to scale innovative solutions, like those at Trade Legacy.
One innovative collaboration idea is the creation of a Youth Sounding Board as a platform for enabling young entrepreneurs engaged in cross-border trade to voice concerns, share ideas, and contribute to policy-making. By integrating youth perspectives, we can develop policies that are inclusive, forward-thinking, and adaptive to regional needs.
Setting a model for others in LLDCs.
Trade Legacy Burundi¡¯s journey exemplifies the potential within LLDCs. By prioritizing sustainable agriculture, cross-border trade, and youth empowerment, we are not only contributing to Burundi¡¯s economic growth but also setting a model for other LLDCs. Our commitment to sustainable development is unwavering, and through collaboration with governments and development partners, we can ensure that LLDCs are not just landlocked, but land-linked leaders in global trade.
Bokim Beni Nihoze, founder and CEO of Trade Legacy Burundi, is a dynamic leader with expertise in agriculture, cross-border commerce, and youth empowerment. Committed to sustainable development and social justice, his leadership has positively impacted over 178 small-scale farmers and numerous youth-led startups, fostering economic growth in Africa.
