Imbo Regional Development Company
Corporate brand
UnclaimedImbo Regional Development Company, or SRDI, is a Burundian public company focused on rural development, irrigation and agricultural production in the Imbo region.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Imbo Regional Development Company, known in French as Société Régionale de Développement de l’Imbo and commonly abbreviated SRDI, is a Burundian public company that sponsors rural development in the Imbo natural region in the northwest of Burundi. Its work has centered on irrigated agriculture, rice production, agricultural processing, farmer organization and the development of supporting rural infrastructure. The company grew out of the Lower Rusizi development program, which began in July 1964 with assistance from the European Development Fund. The program sought to create an irrigated rice-growing area supplied by a dam on the Mpanda River and envisaged resettling farming households in planned villages with access to water and agricultural services. This development effort provided the institutional foundation for SRDI, which was formally created in 1973 under Ministerial Order No. 710/27. SRDI’s early activities were broader than rice alone. Cotton cultivation was developed in the Mugerero area between 1969 and 1980, employing local people as well as migrants from several densely populated Burundian provinces. Rice processing capacity was added in 1976, allowing the organization to support production beyond field cultivation. By 1988, SRDI controlled approximately 1,000 hectares of irrigated rice fields and operated a rice-hulling plant. From 1984 to 1992, SRDI collaborated with AMSAR on a rural development project in East Mpanda led by Louis Berger International. The project aimed to develop 12,875 hectares east of the Mpanda River and settle about 5,000 farming families to cultivate food crops and irrigated rice. Its scope also included water systems, schools, dispensaries, electricity and roads, reflecting SRDI’s role as an integrated regional-development institution rather than simply an agricultural producer. The company also supported the organization of farmers. Two rice-producer associations were piloted in 1989, and in 1998 SRDI began grouping rice farmers from the same villages into associations. That year it took over substantial assets and responsibilities connected with the Rukaramu project, including 647 hectares of rice fields, 270 hectares designated for mixed farming and 300 hectares of social infrastructure developed with Chinese assistance. In the 2010s, SRDI remained involved in externally supported efforts to strengthen food production and rehabilitate agricultural infrastructure. A European Union-funded project implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization was formally handed over at SRDI headquarters in November 2013. The project supported farmer training, irrigation and drainage rehabilitation, roads and tracks, storage, farm inputs and animal traction. It also sought to improve the capacity of farmer associations working in the Imbo perimeter. SRDI has faced institutional and governance questions. In 2014, it was among Burundian public companies recommended for privatization over a five-year period, although the government also discussed safeguards to prevent misuse of company assets before any privatization. In 2019, a joint review by the International Fund for Agricultural Development and the Government of Burundi reported difficulties in implementing an agreed single management structure for the Rukaramu area. The review said that committees established by SRDI and newly elected producer committees were not collaborating effectively. As of 2021, SRDI was active in Mpanda and Gihanga communes in Bubanza Province, Mutimbuzi Commune in Bujumbura Rural Province and Buterere Commune in Bujumbura Mairie. Its continuing role is associated with irrigation, rice and food-crop development, agricultural services, farmer associations and rural infrastructure in the Imbo area.
History
SRDI’s origins lie in the Lower Rusizi development program launched in July 1964 with support from the European Development Fund. The program was designed to transform part of the Imbo region into an irrigated agricultural area, particularly for rice. Its planners envisioned using water from a dam on the Mpanda River and resettling peasant households in villages equipped with water infrastructure. The initiative became the foundation for the later regional-development company. The organization was formally established in 1973 as the Société Régionale de Développement de l’Imbo under Ministerial Order No. 710/27. Before and around the period of its institutional formation, agricultural development also included cotton production in the Mugerero area. Cotton cultivation expanded between 1969 and 1980 and employed both indigenous residents and migrants from provinces including Mwaro, Muramvya, Kayanza, Gitega, Bujumbura and Ngozi. Rice processing became part of the organization’s activities when a processing plant was installed in 1976. Between 1984 and 1992, SRDI worked with AMSAR on the East Mpanda rural-development project, led by Louis Berger International. The planned development area covered 12,875 hectares east of the Mpanda River, with an intended settlement of 5,000 farming families. The project combined irrigated rice and food-crop production with wider public works, including water supply, schools, dispensaries, electricity and roads. By 1988, SRDI controlled about 1,000 hectares of irrigated rice fields and had a rice-hulling plant. Institution-building among producers became more visible in the late 1980s and 1990s. Two rice-producer associations were piloted in 1989. Decree No. 100/154 of 5 September 1997 harmonized SRDI’s statutes with Burundi’s code governing private and public companies. In 1998, SRDI assumed responsibility for 647 hectares of rice fields associated with the Rukaramu project, together with 270 hectares for mixed farming and 300 hectares of social infrastructure developed with Chinese assistance. It also began organizing rice farmers from the same villages into associations. External development programs continued to use SRDI as an institutional and operational partner. In 2013, a European Union-funded project implemented by the FAO addressed food-price pressures by increasing the productive capacity of associations working in the Imbo perimeter. The project included training in the maintenance of hydro-agricultural infrastructure and rural tracks, improved cultivation techniques, rehabilitation of irrigation catchments and waterways, and repairs to rivers, dikes, tracks and canals. It also provided storage sheds, oxen, seed, tools, fertilizer and a rice huller. SRDI’s public-company status later became part of a broader debate about the future of Burundian state enterprises. In July 2014, the company was listed among enterprises recommended for privatization over a five-year period. The debate also emphasized the need to prevent asset abuse while any privatization process was pending. Governance and coordination issues remained relevant in the Rukaramu area. In July 2019, an IFAD and Government of Burundi mission reviewing the National Program for Food Security and Rural Development in Imbo and Moso reported that an agreement between the program and SRDI to establish a single management structure was not being respected. The review described a lack of cooperation between committees created by SRDI and committees elected by producers. By 2021, SRDI was reported to be active in Mpanda and Gihanga communes in Bubanza Province, Mutimbuzi Commune in Bujumbura Rural Province and Buterere Commune in Bujumbura Mairie. Its historical and continuing functions encompass irrigation management, rice and food-crop development, processing, farmer organization and rural infrastructure.
- 2021
Reported operating areas
[1]SRDI is reported as active in communes in Bubanza Province, Bujumbura Rural Province and Bujumbura Mairie.
- 2019
Rukaramu governance review
[1]An IFAD and Government of Burundi review reports weak cooperation between SRDI-established and producer-elected committees in Rukaramu.
- 2014
Privatization recommendation reported
[1]SRDI is named among Burundian public companies recommended for privatization over a five-year period.
- 2013
EU and FAO project handed over
[1]An externally funded program supporting Imbo farmer associations and rehabilitating agricultural infrastructure is handed over at SRDI headquarters.
- 1998
SRDI assumes Rukaramu project assets
[1]SRDI takes over rice fields, mixed-farming land and social infrastructure associated with the Rukaramu project and begins grouping village farmers into associations.
- 1997
Company statutes harmonized
[1]Decree No. 100/154 of 5 September 1997 harmonizes SRDI’s statutes with the code governing private and public companies.
- 1989
Rice-producer associations piloted
[1]Two rice-producer associations are piloted as part of efforts to organize farmers.
- 1984
East Mpanda development collaboration begins
[1]SRDI begins a collaboration with AMSAR on an East Mpanda rural-development project led by Louis Berger International.
- 1976
Rice-processing plant installed
[1]SRDI adds rice-processing capacity to its regional agricultural-development activities.
- 1973
SRDI is formally created
[1]The Société Régionale de Développement de l’Imbo is established by Ministerial Order No. 710/27.
Products and positioning
A state-backed regional-development and agricultural infrastructure organization serving farmers and rural communities in Burundi’s Imbo region.
Agricultural production
Irrigated rice
Rice is SRDI’s central agricultural activity. The company has managed irrigated rice fields in the Imbo region, supported the development of rice-growing perimeters and operated rice-hulling or processing facilities. Its work combines water management, farmer organization and production support rather than representing a conventional packaged-consumer brand.
Agricultural production
Food crops
SRDI’s regional-development programs have included food crops alongside irrigated rice. The East Mpanda project was designed to place farming families on land used for both food-crop cultivation and rice production, supported by roads, water systems and other rural infrastructure.
Agricultural production · 1969
Cotton
Cotton farming was developed in the Mugerero area between 1969 and 1980. The activity formed part of the broader agricultural employment and settlement role associated with the Imbo development program.
Agricultural processing · 1976
Rice hulling and processing
SRDI has provided post-harvest rice-processing capacity, including a plant installed in 1976 and a rice-hulling plant documented by 1988. Later development projects also supplied a huller to farmer associations in the Imbo perimeter.
Rural development
Rural irrigation and infrastructure services
The company’s operating scope includes irrigation catchments, canals, rivers, dikes, tracks, storage facilities and other infrastructure supporting agricultural communities. It has also participated in projects involving water supply, schools, dispensaries and electricity.
Marketing campaigns
- 2013Contribution to the alleviation of the surge in food prices of the production capacities of the associations exploiting the Imbo perimeter
Burundi
A European Union-funded project implemented by the FAO and handed over at SRDI headquarters supported farmer associations in the Imbo perimeter. Activities included training, rehabilitation of irrigation catchments, rivers and dikes, repair of tracks and canals, construction or provision of storage capacity, and distribution of oxen, seeds, tools, fertilizer and a rice huller.
Outcome. The project delivered agricultural inputs and infrastructure-rehabilitation support intended to increase production capacity and improve maintenance of the Imbo irrigation system.
Brand decisions
2019
Rukaramu management structure reviewedStrategyBackground
The PNSADR-IM food-security and rural-development program had a memorandum of understanding with SRDI concerning a single management structure in Rukaramu.
Action taken
An IFAD and Government of Burundi review assessed implementation and reported that the agreed structure was not being respected. Existing SRDI committees and newly elected producer committees were not collaborating.
Aftermath
The review documented an unresolved coordination problem; the available material does not report a subsequent institutional settlement.
2014
SRDI considered for privatizationStrategyBackground
During a July 2014 National Assembly debate, the Burundian government discussed public companies recommended for privatization over a five-year period. SRDI was included alongside several other state-linked enterprises.
Action taken
The government recommendation placed SRDI within a potential future privatization program and called for interim measures to protect the companies’ assets.
Aftermath
The available reference material does not establish that privatization was completed or provide a later ownership outcome.
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