Bubanza : farmers complain about the lack of corn seeds

The provincial office of agriculture and livestock in Bubanza province (western Burundi) received corn seeds imported from Zambia. Less than 30 tons of seeds were received, an insignificant quantity compared to the demand, according to a local agricultural monitor. The very angry farmers are asking the government to make available sufficient quantities of corn seeds for this very crucial farming season A.

INFO SOS Médias Burundi

Lists have been drawn up on each village in Bubanza province.

At the request of the administration, it was the village chiefs who received this quantity, to distribute them to the applicants for a sum of 4200 Burundi francs per kilogram, a price subsidized by the government of Burundi.

“In the town center of Bubanza, applicants were estimated at more than 1000 while the quantity provided did not reach 400 kg. If the sharing had been done fairly, each would have had less than 200 grams of seeds”, reports an agricultural monitor.

A corn sales point reserved for ANAGESSA in Bubanza province (SOS Médias Burundi)

Farmers, very angry, do not know what to do.

“I asked for 10 kg of seeds. With this distribution I am given 1 kg. I do not know what I am going to do with a single kg instead of 10”, complains Rémy.B, a farmer.

Rémy and other farmers had entrusted their harvest to ANAGESSA (National Agency for the Management and Storage of Agricultural Products) at a ridiculous price, he says. “The government had promised to give us seeds. And now we are receiving insignificant quantities. It is really deplorable”.

Farmers are asking the government to give them the sufficient quantity of seeds as it had promised.

“We have money to pay for these seeds, why are they not available?” asks a farmer.

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A stock of corn in Bubanza (SOS Médias Burundi)