Burundi is a small landlocked country in Central Africa, sharing borders with Tanzania on the east, the Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaire) in the west, and Rwanda in the north. With a population of about 7.1 million in 2002 living in a land of just 27,000 square kilometers (10,425 square miles), Burundi has the second highest population density in Africa. The population of Burundi comprises three ethnic groups: the Hutu (85%), the Tutsi (14%), and the Twa (1%). Scarcity of arable land (estimated at 0.13 hectare per person) constitutes an impediment to agricultural production.

Burundi is one of the poorest countries in the world, with a per capita income of $600 in 2003 (in purchasing power parity international dollar). Its economy depends heavily on agriculture, which accounts for about half of national output, compared to 18 percent for industry and 8 percent for the manufacturing sector. The country is heavily burdened by external debt. In 2002, the government spent $3 per capita...