Stimulating cooperative entrepeneurship and introducing irrigation

The partners in this project will set up a cooperative, which will coordinate the growth, processing, marketing, and sales of essential oils (based on patchouli). Patchouli is a crop suitable for the soil and climate of Burundi and has an adequate market potential considering that the world market demand is bigger than supply. Thus far, patchouli was mainly cultivated in East Asia. While earlier attempts were made, this is the first time patchouli is grown at a larger scale in Burundi. This project will make 1,000 ha of uncultivated land available for at least 30 years in the province of Makamba. In total 30,000 direct beneficiaries will profit from the work of the cooperative and 4,000 peasant households will be directly involved. The project also secures the financing of capacity building from the cooperative profits also beyond the life time of the project.