Cibitoke : corn producers grumble

Corn farmers are lamenting, some for not having sold their harvest, others for not having yet received the money from their harvest sold to the government through ANAGESSA. They demand that this institution respects its commitments. The governor reassures. INFO SOS Médias Burundi

Any corn harvest is now purchased by the National Agency for Strategic Food Stock Management (ANAGESSA), a state body, at 1,700 Burundi francs per kilo, in order to protect the production, the government justified.

According to a local source, corn production in the six districts in the Cibitoke province is already sent to ANAGESSA stocks.

“What is surprising, the farmers have not been paid for more than a week so far,” indicates a source close to the matter.

Very upset, a farmer from Rugombo does not hide his despair.

“The wait is long even though we have a lot of expenses to cover, such as health care and paying school fees for our children,” he explains with despair.

In the same connection, another farmer from Buganda criticizes this practice which, in his eyes, is not likely to promote free marketing and circulation of goods.

According to farmers, the long waiting period causes enormous harm in terms of repayment of agricultural loans taken.

“Financial institutions continue to charge interest and there is a high risk of being unable to repay the entire loan taken out for a large majority of farmers,” they insist.

Overall, the situation is becoming more complicated for all corn producers.

This is the case of this farmer from the Bukinanyana district who believes that this type of monopoly in the purchase of corn involves several risks.

He indicates that each farmer is only authorized to initially sell a quantity not exceeding 500 kilos.

If production exceeds this, maize risks rotting in household stocks in the interval between the first and second deliveries.

At this level, according to a district engineer met on site, “rotting is also to be feared for large quantities of corn deposited in ANAGESSA stocks, often kept in poor conditions”.

This engineer also deplores the lack of communication or little information on the progress of the payment process for farmers.

“The State through ANAGESSA should honor its commitments so as not to lose credibility,” believes the official.

The head of the provincial environment and agriculture office says he is not aware of the procedures and organization of ANAGESSA which buys corn from farmers.

On the concerns of farmers, the governor of Cibitoke calms down. Careme Bizoza calls for patience.

On a question comparing this situation of late payment of money from corn producers to that of cotton producers who have not yet received their money since July 2023, Mr. Bizoza explains that the two situations are diametrically opposed.