Abstract

Our study focuses on pig breeding and improving the living conditions of rural communities, specifically in the Rubirizi zone of the Mutimbuzi commune in Burundi. The aim of this research is to analyze the contribution of pig breeding to enhancing the socio-economic conditions of rural residents in the Rubirizi zone. We will examine the socio-economic status of the people in Rubirizi, identify the challenges faced by beneficiaries in pig farming, clarify the role of the Association for Assistance to Vulnerable Women and Children in improving the living conditions of people benefiting from its interventions, and make recommendations on the practice of pig breeding. This research will be supported by one main question and four secondary questions. The main question is: “What is the contribution of pig breeding to improving the socio-economic conditions of rural populations in the Rubirizi zone? Secondary questions are: What were the socio-economic conditions of Rubirizi beneficiaries? What are the constraints of the beneficiaries of the Rubirizi zone in the practice of pig breeding? What is the contribution of the Association for Assistance to Vulnerable Women and Children (AFEVBU) in improving the living conditions of rural populations? What are the recommendations formulated around the practice of pig breeding aimed at the autonomy of breeders assisted by AFEVBU? Our study population is made up of all people of seventy-two households who form all beneficiaries of support in pigs granted by AFEVBU since 2019. The primary objective is to verify whether pig farm affects breeders from a socio-economic point of view, and the second objective is to determine if there is a difference between the socio-economic living of breeders before and after their activities (investment). We responded with a hypothesis, which confirms that pig breeding has improved the lifestyle of breeders in this study environment. Based on our analysis, we found that most of the breeders in our sample have schoolchildren, spend more than before to meet the needs of their household, and constitute stocks of food. In the end, we conclude by confirming our hypothesis which stipulates that there is an improvement in the lifestyle of rural people of the Rubirizi zone on annual income, food, clothing, schooling and education, communication, and medical care. In view of the data on the field that we were able to analyze, we analyzed and commented on the main hypothesis as all the secondary hypotheses have been verified and confirmed.