More than 70 percent of the land in Burundi is used for agriculture, among the various crops there is that of mushrooms, which requires little space,
temperate climate and a high degree of humidity.
Generally, rudimentary greenhouses are used (essentially semi-closed environments) which serve to stabilize humidity and temperature, thus optimizing production even in the dry season .
Mushroom cultivation is certainly an opportunity for economic and social development, for those who, like Deogratias, decide to invest time, money and skills in mushroom cultivation.
An investment that has proven to be precious and fortunate for the man, who lives in the province of Cibitoke, ever since he became a member of a community microcredit group supported by AMU and local partner CASOBU , through the project Si può fare!.
Twitezimbere II Community Microcredit Group
“Twitezimbere” is a term from the Kirundi language that in Italian can be translated as “let’s progress” : it is a sort of encouragement to improve, to develop, to progress. It is therefore no coincidence that this verb was chosen as the name of the community microcredit group, of which Deogratias is now a member.
Just one year has passed since he joined – it was 2024 – and yet the positive effects of this choice are clearly visible.
Why Join a Community Microcredit Group?
Mushroom cultivation and sales had always fascinated Deogratias, who had already started this income-generating activity, but without managing to get it off the ground. 
Above all, he lacked the right raw materials to improve production and some more knowledge on how to manage resources in such a way as to optimize daily work.
In short, what he needed was to make a small leap in quality: the opportunity came precisely with the first loan obtained by the group.
From first loan to success
The first loan received from the community microcredit group was very advantageous : it came just when Deogratias needed money to invest.
With that credit he was able to purchase quality raw materials. He thus collected over 225 kilos of mushrooms , sold for 2,225,000 Burundian francs in just two months.
This was only the first of a series of subsequent activities: he repeatedly asked for small loans which were granted to him and which he always repaid.
Not just income with community microcredit
It is not only an economic issue, which is also fundamental in the development of the communities of the province of Cibitoke. In their ability to look to the future with optimism.
There is also something less concrete at stake, but equally fundamental, such as motivation, the drive to move forward to make other dreams come true: Deogratias’s dream now is to produce the essential raw materials for mushroom cultivation himself, expand his sales area and set up… “ten thousand mushroom farms” .