Orateur
Description
Food security is a major global challenge, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, where 258 million people are affected, representing an increase of 30% between 2019 and 2023. In Burundi, 41.2% of households experience food insecurity, with the rate reaching 44% in rural areas. This situation calls for agroecological solutions to strengthen the resilience of food systems in the face of climate change. Vegetable farming, by diversifying production and preserving cultivated biodiversity, constitutes a strategic practice for improving food and nutritional security.
This study, conducted among 384 farming households in Gitega Commune, analyzes the determinants of participation in vegetable crop production and its effects on food consumption. The results of the logistic regression show that participation is positively influenced by the male gender of the household head (OR = 5.32; p = 0.000), primary education (OR = 6.88; p = 0.000), access to irrigation (OR = 3.70; p = 0.000), farm size (OR = 3.56; p = 0.000), and membership in a farmers’ organization (OR = 2.68; p = 0.012). Conversely, greater distance from markets reduces the likelihood of participation (OR = 0.95; p = 0.000). Propensity Score Matching results reveal that households engaged in vegetable farming achieve higher food consumption (+9.2 points) and greater dietary diversity (+1.12 points).
These findings confirm that vegetable farming is an effective agroecological lever for strengthening food security in the context of climate-related crises.
Keywords: Food security, vegetable farming, agroecology, climate change, rural households, dietary diversity, Burundi