Gitega : the FOMI fertilizer shortage raises fears of a famine-prone season C

SOS Médias Burundi

Gitega, July 28, 2026 – Farmers in Gitega province, in central Burundi, are raising the alarm about the shortage of FOMI (Organo-Mineral and Industrial Fertilizers) for the marshland farming season, commonly known as Season C. They fear a sharp drop in agricultural production, which could worsen food insecurity and lead to a rise in the prices of basic necessities.

Générose Nahimana, 70 years old, from Ntobwe, interviewed in the marshland separating the Nyamugari and Karera I neighborhoods in Gitega district and province, says that many farmers have still not received the necessary fertilizers for this new farming season.

“For this marsh season, also called season C, we still haven’t received the FOMI fertilizers. The relevant authorities haven’t even called us to release the advance payments. We wonder if they’ve abandoned their responsibilities, unfortunately without any explanation. Personally, I’m still owed two bags of fertilizer, arrears from farming season B. Today, we’re forced to sow corn and beans without chemical fertilizers,” she laments.

Chantal Uwimana, 48 years old, a farmer from Nyabugogo, whom we also met in the same marsh, shares the same concern. She believes that the lack of FOMI fertilizers risks seriously compromising this season’s harvests.

“We’re forced to resort to traditional fertilizers to sow beans and corn. Of course, the production won’t be as good as before.” “This situation will have consequences for our families’ lives, with a risk of famine and rising food prices in the markets,” she explains.

She also laments the lack of official communication regarding the availability of fertilizers.

“So far, no communication from the Ministry of Environment, Agriculture, and Livestock has indicated when FOMI fertilizers will be available. We are living in total confusion. Even during the B farming season, the bean harvest was very poor due to the lack of FOMI fertilizers,” she adds.

These concerns are shared by many farmers in Gitega province who are demanding the rapid distribution of agricultural inputs. Their concern is compounded by the state of several marshes that remain undeveloped, a situation that exacerbates flooding and regularly contributes to low agricultural yields.

Speaking at a press conference for local media, Jean Séverin Sinzobatohana, the provincial director of Environment, Agriculture, and Livestock in Gitega, confirmed that no FOMI fertilizer will be available for this farming season (season C).

Faced with this situation, he urged farmers to use traditional fertilizers while awaiting an improvement in supplies.

The situation in Gitega is not unique. In several regions of Burundi, farmers are reporting delays in the distribution of agricultural inputs. Some claim they have never received the fertilizers for which they have already paid advances, sometimes months or even years ago.

While agriculture remains the primary source of income for a large portion of the Burundian population, the shortage of FOMI fertilizers is raising further concerns about upcoming harvests. For farmers, this situation could reduce agricultural yields and exacerbate food insecurity in a country already facing a rising cost of living and declining household purchasing power.