Cibitoke : the irrigation dam closure threatens rice crops

SOS Médias Burundi

Cibitoke, January 16, 2026 – Farmers in the Rugombo and Cibitoke zones of Cibitoke district, Bujumbura province, western Burundi, are raising the alarm after the temporary closure of an irrigation dam that supplies their fields. They consider this decision by the authorities dangerous for their crops, particularly rice, which is currently in a critical period of water scarcity.

The farmers, mostly rice growers located in the villages of the Rugombo and Cibitoke zones, accuse the provincial Department of Agriculture and Livestock, in collaboration with the local administration, of having cut off access to water without prior consultation. According to them, the water supply was cut off on the morning of Wednesday, January 15, officially to allow for the dredging and maintenance of the clogged irrigation canals.

This decision comes as the rainy season becomes increasingly irregular and the rice paddies are going through a crucial stage in their growing cycle, requiring a constant supply of water. “Without irrigation, our fields risk drying out in a matter of days,” warns a farmer in the area.

Producers fear significant losses. Several say they have taken out loans from banks and microfinance institutions to finance the agricultural season, relying on irrigation to guarantee yields. A compromised harvest would jeopardize the economic stability of many farming households.

A closure deemed premature

Farmers point out that, according to usual practice, the water supply is typically shut off around mid-August, not in the middle of the farming season. They believe this measure could have serious social and economic consequences for the region.

When contacted, the authorities in charge of agriculture and local administration indicated that this interruption is part of a pre-established schedule for dredging the irrigation canals. They assure that the water supply will be restored later this month, pending the arrival of the rains.

Farmers consider these explanations insufficient, especially since some claim they have not yet received the often expensive fertilizers promised to support their crops.

Faced with this situation, producers are calling on provincial agricultural officials to intervene urgently to prevent an agricultural crisis that could have serious social repercussions in Bujumbura province.