Gitega : soaring food prices strangle households and worsen poverty in Burundi

SOS Médias Burundi

Gitega, November 9, 2026 — Soaring food prices are causing increasing concern among residents of Gitega, in central Burundi, home to the country’s political capital. In just two months, several basic necessities have seen considerable price increases in the central market, plunging many households into an increasingly difficult economic situation.

Among the hardest-hit products is the potato, whose price per kilogram has risen from 1,800 to 3,200 Burundian francs (Bif). Tarocase has also seen a significant increase, from 2,000 to 3,000 Bif. As for dried peas, their price has risen from 10,000 to 12,000 Burundian francs (Bif) per kilogram.

The same trend is observed for cereals and legumes. The price of corn kernels has increased from 1,500 to 2,300 Bif per kilogram, dried soybeans from 5,000 to 6,000 Bif, while wheat has risen from 2,500 to 3,000 Bif.

The price increase also affects other basic food items. Locally produced rice, which previously sold for 5,000 Bif, now costs 6,000 Bif per kilogram. Rice imported from Tanzania has increased from 8,000 to 10,000 Bif. Cassava has not been spared either : its price has risen from 1,500 to 2,000 Bif per kilogram.

As for beans, different varieties have also seen a significant price increase. The price of a kilogram of the Muhoro variety has risen from 5,000 to 6,000 Burundian francs (Bif), that of the Kinure variety from 4,000 to 5,000 Bif, while the price of regular beans has increased from 3,000 to 4,200 Bif.

Onions have also seen a significant price hike. The price of a kilogram of white onions has increased from 2,500 to 3,500 Bif, compared to a rise of 2,000 to 3,000 Bif for red onions.

This price surge is causing considerable concern among the population. Many residents complain about the high cost of living and say they are struggling to make ends meet, as the cost of their food continues to rise.

Traders cite several factors

Traders cite several factors to explain this situation. When contacted about this, some cited poor agricultural production during the previous farming season, resulting from adverse weather conditions, as well as a shortage of organic-mineral fertilizers.

Adding to these difficulties is the fuel shortage, which complicates commercial activities and market supply. Transportation costs and difficulties in delivering goods thus contribute to the downward pressure on prices.

This price surge is occurring within an economic context already marked by high inflation and growing poverty. For many households, putting food on the table has become a daily challenge, as incomes are not keeping pace with the rising cost of living.

This precarious situation is also driving thousands of Burundians to leave their country in search of livelihoods in neighboring countries and those in the Gulf. In Gitega, as elsewhere in Burundi, the continued rise in food prices is exacerbating the hardships faced by families and fueling anxieties about their living conditions.

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Female traders wait for customers in a market in Gitega, the political capital of Burundi, where soaring food prices are reducing household purchasing power and affecting business activities (SOS Médias Burundi)