Ruyigi : three seasons without fertilizer, farmers accuse the State of impoverishing them with empty promises

SOS Médias Burundi

Ruyigi, September 23, 2026—Farmers in the district of Ruyigi, in Buhumuza province, eastern Burundi, say they have gone three farming seasons without receiving chemical fertilizers. As a new registration process for beneficiaries has just concluded, several producers are expressing their anger and mistrust, denouncing repeated promises that, according to them, have not been kept.

The registration process for farmers eligible to receive chemical fertilizers for the next growing season took place over three days across the country and concluded Wednesday in Ruyigi. In this district, members of parliament from Buhumuza and local administrative officials visited different areas to oversee the process and raise awareness among the population.

The second vice-speaker of the National Assembly, Boussessia Nkezimana, toured the seven zones of the Ruyigi district on Monday and Tuesday to hear the concerns of farmers.

Three seasons without fertilizer

Several farmers say they have not received any chemical fertilizers for three growing seasons, despite various appeals to the authorities.

“We were registered previously, but we didn’t receive the fertilizers,” some producers explained, fearing that the new registration process will suffer the same fate.

Others are particularly worried that fertilizers will not be available at planting time or that their price will remain unaffordable for small-scale farmers. For them, registration is only the first step: they want to see the inputs actually available on time and in sufficient quantities.

According to several farmers, the situation has exacerbated their economic difficulties. Some say they have sold plots of land or livestock to finance their farming activities and meet their basic needs. Others explain that they have taken out bank loans to invest in agriculture, but have been unable to repay them.

They are asking for their situation to be taken into account, particularly the difficulties and potential arrears related to previous agricultural seasons.

Promises that cause exasperation

In the various areas visited, several citizens say they are tired of announcements that, according to them, do not lead to concrete results.

They are now demanding specific answers regarding the availability of fertilizers, the quantities that will be allocated, the distribution schedule, and the prices at which they will be available.

For these producers, the priority is no longer just to be registered, but to see the fertilizers actually available when they need them.

Faced with this frustration, members of parliament and administrative officials have increased awareness campaigns. The authorities have particularly emphasized the need to participate in the registration process.

During these sessions, officials warned that anyone attempting to obstruct the registration process would be considered to be committing “high treason against their country.”

Difficulties reported on the ground

The operation was not without its challenges. Citizens reported a lack of competence among some registration agents, as well as insufficient technical equipment for accurately measuring agricultural land.

Residents also accused some officials in the villages of demanding money for procedures related to the registration process.

In Masama, local officials implicated by the population were taken into custody by security services, according to Boussessia Nkezimana.

The Second Vice-Speaker of the National Assembly listened to residents’ grievances throughout her tour, while the issue of access to fertilizer remains a central concern for farmers.

The matter is being monitored at the highest level.

Boussessia Nkezimana assured that the issue of chemical fertilizers is being monitored at the highest levels of government. According to her, President Évariste Ndayishimiye has personally taken up the matter to find a lasting solution to the difficulties related to agricultural inputs.

This assurance, however, is not enough to allay the concerns of farmers in Ruyigi. For them, the urgent need is now for announcements to translate into the actual availability of fertilizers.

After three seasons without inputs, some farmers say they have already paid a heavy price : land sold, livestock sold, loans taken out, and agricultural incomes jeopardized.

A concern that extends beyond Ruyigi

The situation in Ruyigi is not unique. In various regions of this small East African nation, access to chemical fertilizers and other agricultural inputs remains a major concern for farmers.

In Ruyigi, farmers are now waiting to see if the new registration campaign will lead to effective and timely distribution. For those who denounce three seasons of broken promises, the next step will be to verify whether the announced commitments are finally being fulfilled in the fields.