The Burundian Ministry of Agriculture has announced plans to raise the price of green tea leaves from the current 350 BIF per kilogram, addressing widespread complaints from tea farmers that have led some to destroy their tea fields in protest.
During a visit to Kayanza Province on Thursday, Agriculture Minister Prosper Dodiko acknowledged the grievances of tea farmers, who are dissatisfied with the current pricing and face challenges including delayed collection and inadequate storage facilities.
“We have heard the concerns of tea farmers, and we are committed to improving the situation by increasing the price per kilogram of tea leaves. This will ensure fair compensation and encourage continued cultivation,” Minister Dodiko said. He also emphasized efforts to enhance tea quality, which could fetch better prices on the international market.
The ministry has set a deadline of December 30 for tea-processing complexes to provide a detailed plan to improve production quality and logistics.
In addition to addressing pricing issues, Minister Dodiko assured farmers that overdue bonuses of 156 BIF per kilogram—totaling over 4.6 billion BIF—would be disbursed by year-end. These payments cover the past two years and aim to restore trust among tea producers.
Tea growers have requested a price increase to at least 1,000 BIF per kilogram, arguing that the current rate is unsustainable given rising costs of living and transportation challenges exacerbated by Burundi’s ongoing fuel shortages.
Burundi’s persistent fuel crisis has deeply impacted the tea sector, including transportation and processing operations. The Office of Tea of Burundi (OTB) recently reported a $2 million deficit caused by fuel shortages, further straining the industry.
President Evariste Ndayishimiye downplayed OTB’s reported financial losses, questioning the organization’s previous contributions to national revenue.
“If OTB recorded this loss due to the fuel shortage, how much was it contributing to the country’s revenue before the shortage?’ he asked during a public broadcast in Bujumbura, the nation’s economic capital, on Friday.
This announcement follows a week of mounting pressure from tea farmers, who had earlier written to the President demanding urgent interventions to save the sector.
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