The President of the Burundian Senate, Emmanuel Sinzohagera, called on the government to strengthen its support for farmers to improve working conditions and boost agricultural productivity. Speaking on Monday during a rice harvest on his farm in Gifurwe Hill, Mpanda Commune in Bubanza western province, Sinzohagera emphasized that agriculture plays a crucial role in the country’s economy and food security.
Speaking to the national broadcaster on Monday, he highlighted Burundi’s fertile and productive land, stressing that government intervention is essential for its optimal utilization.
“We continue to urge our government to maintain its support for agriculture,” said Sinzohagera, adding that this would enable Burundians to have enough food for consumption and surplus for export. He underscored that no nation can develop without first prioritizing agriculture.
The Senate President further called on the Ministry of Agriculture to take a new step in improving post-harvest processing. “In addition to cultivating rice and other agricultural products, we ask the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock to help us move forward in processing harvests. This includes better storage and value addition through processing,” he said.
His remarks come amid growing concerns over climate change effects on agriculture. Recently, in Kirundo Province in northern Burundi, over 22,200 households were identified as among the most affected by food shortages in five areas within the communes of Busoni, Bugabira, and Kirundo. The crisis was linked to a prolonged drought that impacted the agricultural season A. In response, Burundian President Evariste Ndayishimiye has urged the population to adopt better environmental protection measures to mitigate climate-related agricultural losses.
In December 2024, as part of the revised national budget for the 2024/2025 fiscal year, the government allocated over 160 billion Burundian francs to the agriculture sector. Kiyago Générose, President of the Court of Auditors, explained that the budget increase was aimed at addressing the rising demand for fertilizers, which are scarce across the country, raising fears of poor harvests and potential famine.
In January, Agriculture Minister Dodiko Prosper acknowledged that chemical fertilizer production depends on imported raw materials, which require foreign currency that is currently in short supply. “The basic inputs for fertilizer production come from abroad and must be purchased in foreign currency, which is scarce,” Dodiko said.
Despite multiple challenges facing the agricultural sector, including drought, fertilizer shortages, and climate change, the Burundian Coffee Development Authority (ODECA) reported a successful coffee trade, generating over $5.5 million in revenue. Coffee was sold at prices ranging from $6 to $7.4 per kilogram, demonstrating resilience in one of the country’s key export sectors.
Burundi remains highly dependent on agriculture, with around 90% of its population reportedly engaged in farming, primarily at the subsistence level. Crops such as maize, beans, cassava, bananas, and rice form the backbone of rural livelihoods. However, the sector faces ongoing challenges, including land scarcity due to high population density, climate change-induced weather variability, soil degradation, and limited access to modern farming inputs.
Leave a comment