Burundi

On the terraced hillsides of Burundi, morning light falls across neat rows of cassava, maize, and beans—crops that sustain not only the nation’s kitchens but much of its economy. In this small, landlocked East African country, agriculture is more than an occupation; it is a lifeline, shaping livelihoods, traditions, and the fragile balance of national stability. Nearly nine out of ten Burundians work the land, most of them practicing subsistence farming. Fields are often planted with staple crops destined for family consumption rather than market sale. Rural life revolves around the seasonal rhythms of planting and harvest, with communities bound together by the shared uncertainty of weather and yield. A...