Burundi : subsidized fertilizers now conditional on contour lines

SOS Médias Burundi

Gitega, September 25, 2025 — Burundian Prime Minister Nestor Ntahontuye announced Thursday that the allocation of organo-mineral fertilizers will now be reserved for farmers who have traced contour lines.

Addressing new administration officials, microfinance managers, and economic operators in the political capital, Gitega, Mr. Ntahontuye reiterated that these agricultural inputs benefit from massive state support : “Organo-mineral fertilizers are subsidized by more than 60% and selected maize seeds by 40%. From now on, there is no question of distributing these products to farmers who have not complied with the condition of contour lines,” he insisted.

According to him, village chiefs, in collaboration with agricultural monitors, will be responsible for ensuring compliance with this requirement and will participate in the distribution of inputs.

The Prime Minister also announced a series of sanctions related to hygiene and sanitation. Violators face :

5,000 Bif fines for open defecation,

100,000 Bif fines and closure for bars and restaurants without toilets,

100,000 Bif fines for people using smoke in public places.

During this meeting, Ernest Mbonabuca, a young entrepreneur from Nyabikere in Gitega province, central Burundi, expressed the concern of coffee farmers who have still not received their payments, a situation that complicates the return to school for their children. In response, Mr. Ntahontuye explained that this delay would be linked to certain coffee growers who had not communicated their bank accounts for the payment of funds.