Burundi : PARCEM accuses the power of locking the import of fertilizers for the benefit of a handful of privileged

SOS Médias Burundi

Bujumbura, October 23, 2026—The Burundian organization Speech and Action further Revival of Consciousness and the Evolution of Mindsets (PARCEM) denounces the import conditions of chemical fertilizers recently announced by the government. Its national director, Faustin Ndikumana, fears that the new measures will replace the existing monopoly with a system reserved for a privileged few, to the detriment of competition and investment.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, October 21, the Ministry of Environment, Agriculture and Livestock specified the conditions for importing agricultural inputs. Interested operators must in particular address a letter to the Ministry indicating the type of entrants concerned, the desired quantities and the country of origin.

The products concerned include DAP, urea and fertilizers comparable to those of FOMI (Organo-Mineral Industries Fertilisers), marketed under the names Imbura, Bagara and Totahaza. However, the importation of liquid fertilizers is not allowed.

The ministry also extended until Saturday, October 24, the deadline for payment of the balance of fertilizers. The distribution of the amounts already paid is due to begin Monday, October 26th.

Reacting to these measures on Thursday, October 22, Faustin Ndikumana is concerned to see the importation of fertilizers reserved for a small group of privileged operators. He fears that the government will replace the current monopoly with a system controlled by a few, without guaranteeing true market openness.

The head of PARCEM asks in particular about the selection criteria, including the area of ​​land owned by the candidates. He believes that economic operators with experience in this field should also be able to participate in imports.

Farmers in a swamp in Gitega province, in central Burundi, denounce the lack of FOMI fertilizers for the farming season C, a situation that raises fears of a decline in harvests and worsening food insecurity (SOS Médias Burundi)

According to him, limiting access to a handful of actors risks perpetuating the dysfunctions of the current system rather than correcting them. He denounces a “rent economy” that is likely to concentrate economic benefits in the hands of a narrow circle of people.

Faustin Ndikumana also warned that such a provision could discourage investors and promote corrupt practices. For PARCEM, access to fertilizer imports should be based on transparent, objective and operator-accessible criteria capable of meeting farmers’ needs.

Across the regions of Burundi, the small East African country, farmers complain of not receiving ordered fertilizers on time, despite payments made several years ago. Some also denounce a selective distribution that, according to them, would favor members of the ruling party, the CNDD-FDD, as well as businessmen close to it. Others claim to receive only ridiculous amounts, insufficient to meet the needs of their holdings.

For years, Burundian authorities have been struggling to find lasting solutions to the fertilizer crisis, but also to shortages affecting other essential products. The fuel crisis, which has been going on for nearly six years, is among the most persistent. Faced with the repetition of these difficulties, Burundi is sometimes described by local and foreign observers as a “country of shortages”.

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Farmers in Bubanza, in western Burundi, at a distribution point of chemical fertilizers in October 2026. The local NGO Speech and Action for the Revival of Consciousness and the Evolution of Mindsets, PARCEM, denounces restrictions imposed on importation of fertilizers and warns against the risk of reserving this market to a handful of privileged operators (SOS Médias Burundi)