NGOZI, Sept 29 (ABP) – The Burundian Prime Minister, Nestor Ntahontuye, held a meeting on Thursday, September 25, 2025, bringing together provincial and communal administrators in Butanyerera province, leaders in the agriculture and livestock sectors, representatives of religious denominations, banking officials, and economic operators of the province. The purpose was to examine actions to promote the agricultural sector.
The Prime Minister stated that the government has adopted a new direction aimed at developing this sector. He announced that certain unused state-owned lands will now be made available to investors for agricultural and livestock activities. He invited them to invest in the production of selected seeds as well as in agro-food processing, so that Burundi can reduce imports and instead have products to export. He also specified that investors wishing to engage in livestock farming will be supported in obtaining bank loans. He further encouraged investment in beekeeping.
In addition, each household is now required to trace contour lines in their fields. From now on, no one will be eligible to receive fertilizers or selected seeds without having first traced these contour lines.
Mr. Ntahontuye also recalled what the law provides regarding penalties for non-compliance with hygiene and sanitation regulations. In this regard, anyone dumping household waste in unauthorized places will be subject to a fine of 50,000 BIF.
As for owners of bars, restaurants, dance venues, places of worship, markets, or health centers that do not have proper sanitation facilities, they will be fined 100,000 BIF.
The Minister of Environment, Agriculture, and Livestock, Calinie Mbarushimana, presented some of the achievements already made to increase production in the agriculture and livestock sectors. These include: the establishment of community cooperatives active in agro-pastoral activities, a program aimed at providing the population with selected seeds at an affordable price, and the granting of agricultural loans to farmers through banks and financial institutions created for this purpose, among others. She also noted that centers for the production of selected seeds are being established to reduce dependency on imported seeds.
For his part, the governor of Butanyerera province, Victor Segasago, raised concerns currently faced by the population. He notably requested that fertilizers and selected seeds be made regularly available, on time, and in sufficient quantity.
He also called for coffee producers and those who sold their maize harvest to receive their payments so they can buy fertilizers and seeds in time, thus avoiding delays in the planting season.
To these concerns, the Prime Minister responded that the government is doing everything possible to modernize the coffee and tea sectors. Regarding fertilizers and selected seeds, he assured that they are currently being stocked, as the government has made this a priority.