Burundi is known for its green hills, and the tomato is an important source of income for thousands of farmers, as well as a staple food. However, there are growing concerns about the intensive use of pesticides in its cultivation. These chemicals are used on a large scale to ensure abundant harvests, but they raise questions about their impact on the health of the farmers who handle them daily and the consumers who eat the tomatoes.
The urgent need to raise awareness : When tomatoes both nourish and cause concern
A visit to the field highlighted farmers’ growing concerns about the dangers of these products, whose impact on health is often underestimated or even ignored.
Béatrice Ntahomvukiye, a member of the Ivyiza Vy’urunyanya cooperative, met in her tomato field in Kivoga village, expressed her deep concern: “As soon as the time comes to use Dithane M45 (probably a type of pesticide), we are obliged to apply it to stop diseases, but this Dithane M45 can have serious consequences for people’s lives.”
Béatrice deplores the crying lack of information among farmers about the handling and effects of pesticides. “These pesticides were given to us out of the blue, without explanation“, she confides, before making an urgent appeal : “We ask for lots of training sessions for us farmers on the consequences of pesticides“. She highlights a major dilemma: “If you use these pesticides, the soil has been damaged. If we don’t use them, you don’t get productivity.”
Alexis Ndayizeye, also a member of the « Ivyiza Vy’urunyanya » cooperative(The tomato benefits cooperative), shares this bitter assessment. He highlights the Cornelian choice facing farmers: “What threatens farmers is that if they prefer to use bio-fertilisers, they earn a small amount, rather than use these pesticides which would be harmful to their lives.” To top it all off, these pesticides come at a high price, putting a further strain on farmers’ meagre budgets.
“We farmers take into account the results of these pesticides on our crops, but we don’t know the consequences for our health,” admits Alexis. He reveals an alarming practice : “I ask my friend how he uses them, and if he has received high productivity, I use them too.”
It was also noted that the “firemen” (those spraying pesticides) in the fields had no adequate protection. One of them, seen in action, was only protecting his nose, leaving his body, hands, feet and head bare, despite the proven risks to the skin. Alexis explains this negligence by a lack of means to buy the necessary protective equipment, preferring to take this risk by default.
Belyne Niyonzima, deputy chaiperson of the cooperative, points to another worrying problem: « tomatoes fall to the ground before harvesting ». According to her, this is because “we have not used many pesticides, because we have been told that they are harmful to our health“. she adds with concern that many farmers favour the use of highly dangerous pesticides to have high tomato productivity and don’t care about the consequences that happen to consumers of these tomatoes on the markets. « This is a major problem », she stated.
For Mrs. Niyinzima, the solution lies in raising awareness of the consequences of pesticides for the health of farmers and consumers. she insists that many of them are unaware of this and only want productivity.
Appeal to action : Towards more sustainable and healthy agriculture
Faced with this situation, these farmers from the “Ivyiza Vy’urunyanya” cooperative are making a vibrant appeal to pesticide shopkeepers in Burundi to demand clear and precise information on the products being sold, their dangers and safe methods of use. They also deplore the presence of unqualified staff at pesticide sales outlets, which prevents them from properly understanding and explaining the contents of the product leaflets.
As for the government department in charge of pesticide approval in Burundi, these farmers are calling for tighter controls on imported and distributed pesticides, as well as stricter regulations on their use. They are also calling for the introduction of accessible and comprehensible national training programmes on good agricultural practices and the safe use of pesticides, as well as the active promotion of biofertilisers and integrated pest management methods.
Unqualified sellers, a risk for agriculture and health
During a visit to pesticide shops in Bujumbura, an alarming observation was made: most of the sellers do not have the necessary qualifications in agronomy to advise farmers properly. This shortcoming raises serious concerns about the safe and effective use of these essential products for Burundian agriculture.
It has also been observed that many of these traders are unable to read and correctly interpret the information on pesticide labels. As a result, they struggle to provide accurate and relevant instructions to customers, most of whom are farmers who use these products regularly on their crops.
Miburo Israël, a pesticide seller met at the market commonly known as Chez Sion, confirmed this observation in an interview. He admitted that he does not have a degree in agronomy, and therefore does not have official authorisation to sell these products. “I have a degree in industrial electricity, but I’ve noticed that the pesticide trade generates income very quickly. That’s why I decided to open this shop, to provide for my family.
He did, however, say that he had been trained in the field by a friend. This situation highlights the fact that many pesticide sellers operate without the necessary agronomic training, relying instead on informal and potentially incomplete knowledge.
This lack of expertise represents a major risk to farmers’ health, the environment and agricultural productivity in Burundi. Better regulation and mandatory training for pesticide sellers are imperative to ensure that farmers receive sound advice and use these products responsibly.
Burundian regulation in the face of the pesticides challenge : Between a strict framework and realities on the ground
The Burundian Authority for the Regulation of Veterinary Products, Pesticides and Food (ABREVPA), through its Director of Inspection and Quality Control of Pesticides and Food of Plant Origin, Eustache Cimpaye, detailed the measures and challenges linked to the management of pesticides in Burundi. ABREVPA emphasises a strict regulatory framework for import and sale, requiring import authorisation via the OBR’s Askuda system and prior approval of products.
Eustache Cimpaye pointed out that the opening of any pesticide sales outlet is also subject to specific standards.”Pesticide registration is not static; it is based on toxicological, eco-toxicological and biological efficacy analyses“.
He added that the lists of pesticides are revised annually and may include products that are registered, under provisional authorisation, or banned for reasons of dangerousness. According to him, ABREVPA is working to remove “Highly Hazardous Pesticides” (WHO classes 1A and 1B) from the market, although some, such as phostoxin, are still used under strict conditions and with the support of technicians. For that, Burundi is a signatory to international conventions (Rotterdam, Stockholm, Basel), which means it is committed to complying with global decisions on toxic products, such as the withdrawal of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT).Mr.Cimpaye points out that managing pesticide waste is a major challenge.
He added that ABREVPA formally prohibits the reuse of empty containers because of their toxic residues, and promotes their destruction. “For obsolete pesticides, Burundi lacks destruction equipment and is looking for international partners to dispose of them, while banning their incineration due to pollution“.
Eustache Cimpaye, the director in charge of registration, stressed that pesticide sellers must be agronomists or have similar training (like veterinary surgeons) to guarantee informed advice. However, he added that Burundi is facing a lack of equipment for the regular monitoring of pesticide residues in agricultural products, requiring a dedicated laboratory.
Eustache Cimpaye made a strong appeal for caution and knowledge regarding the use of pesticides, highlighting their risks to human health and the environment. He pointed out that a product designed to kill a living organism can also harm human beings, underlining the need for farmers and sellers to be aware of the toxicity of the products they are handling.
According to him , ABREVPA favours integrated pest management, defined as a combination of techniques designed to control pests while protecting farmers, consumers and the environment. « Pesticides should be used as a last resort, always in a reasoned and intelligent way, with a judicious choice of product ».
With regard to the use of pesticides according to the season, Mr. Cimpaye explained that the rainy season, which is conducive to fungal diseases, leads to more frequent use of chemical products. On the other hand, the dry season, with less of a fungal emergency, leads to a reduction in the use of pesticides, which he believes explains the lower prices for dry-season tomatoes. He stresses the need to educate farmers about ideal growing periods and good treatment practices.
One example of a dangerous practice raised by Eustache Cimpaye is the use of mancozeb without respecting the 10-day pre-harvest interval. This not only wastes the product, but also leads to an accumulation of residues in the crops. For consumers, the simple but effective advice is to wash tomatoes well and soak them in hot water to minimise the risks associated with residues.
The organic alternative : hope for sustainable agriculture
Adrien Sibomana, President of Burundi Organic Agriculture Movement (BOAM), explains that synthetic pesticides appeared by accident, inherited from the chemical weapons developed during the two world wars, particularly the Second World War, pointing out that investment in these technologies was redirected towards agriculture, giving rise to chemical fertilisers and pesticides. However, these products have harmful effects on the environment, nature and human health. In the face of these damaging effects, alternative solutions such as organic farming have become necessary, he reassures us.
Although Burundi has not reached an extremely harmful level of pesticide use, Sibomana warns of a drift if no attention is paid. « Pesticides that have been withdrawn from the international market because of their toxicity continue to be used in rural areas of Burundi, often due to a lack of information about the policies in force. » What’s more, he added, farmers frequently use these products without the necessary protective equipment (mask, gloves), exposing themselves to toxicity. Dosages are often incorrect and precautions are not observed.
He also noted the continued use of dangerous products such as Dursban, which has been withdrawn from the market. “A major problem is the application of this pesticide to tomatoes even at harvest time, ignoring the safety periods that should be observed before picking. It penetrates the skin of the fruit, making washing ineffective and leading to an accumulation of toxic substances in the consumer”.
The risks for consumers of tomatoes treated with pesticides are linked to illnesses, particularly cancers, which Sibomana suspects are directly linked to the ingestion of these substances. He asserts that there is no alternative to abandoning chemical fertilisers and pesticides, as soil deterioration will make their restoration extremely difficult. He insists that natural solutions are available for fertilisation and pest control, and that these should be made more widely available.
The BOAM chairman Sibomana also pointed out that organic farming is necessary, because, he continues, it offers a number of advantages, including reduced dependence on costly imports of fertilisers and pesticides and it preserves traditional seeds, guaranteeing food independence. Sibomana warns against giving priority to quantity over quality, arguing that an organic tomato is worth more than one that has been chemically treated.
He urged public services to be aware of the impact of pesticides on public health, encouraging them to support agro-ecological farming. “We cannot afford the luxury of enriching the people who sell us poison.”
A multi-faceted threat to health
Dr Ferdinand Ndikuryayo, an expert in pesticide science and professor at the Institute for Applied Pedagogy (IPA) at the University of Burundi (Biology-Chemistry Department), warns of the risks associated with exposure to pesticides. He points out that such exposure can have immediate effects such as itching, respiratory problems, headaches and nausea. “In the long term, the consequences can be more serious, including cancer, hormonal disruption and kidney or liver problems. The severity of these symptoms varies according to the type of pesticide and the level of exposure. »
Although there are many alternatives to chemical pesticides, both in Burundi and abroad, Dr. Ndikuryayo is sceptical about a total replacement by biological control or cultivation practices. He justifies his pessimism with the decrease in arable land, population growth and the proliferation of pests.
In this context, he urges tomato growers in Burundi in particular to be aware of the toxicity of pesticides. While acknowledging that these instructions do not always reflect local reality, he insists on the need to scrupulously respect the instructions for use provided by manufacturers.
The toxic shadow of pesticides in Burundi
A study commissioned in 2022 by Inades-Formation, a pan-African network working for sustainable development, revealed major concerns about the use of synthetic chemical pesticides in Burundi. Joseph Nigeze, Director of Inades-Formation Burundi, highlighted the high risk of poisoning for handlers and consumers, as well as environmental pollution. The study identified the widespread use of unregistered pesticides by farmers (such as Supra, Safarimax, Malathion 2% PP, Twigaphos, Linkonile, Cyperscope 5 EC and Balcozeb) to combat diseases and pests.
In addition, storage conditions for these products are often inadequate. Farmers generally lack appropriate storage facilities, and pesticides are sometimes kept in homes, in unidentified containers, increasing the risk of accidental ingestion by children or adults. What’s more, despite Article 33 of Burundi’s import law, which requires compliance with international directives, banned pesticides such as endosulfan (since 2013 and in accordance with the Stockholm Convention) continue to be imported. The study also highlighted the poor knowledge of harmful organisms and pesticides among many farmers, leading to inappropriate choices of products and mixtures without technical reference.
The Inades-Formation study, based on documentary analysis and field data, focused on the impact of pesticides on human health and the environment, the legal framework, and crop protection methods. It revealed the prevalence of chemical control, even when farmers are supervised by agricultural projects, often with indiscriminate use and without respect for economic harm thresholds. Paradoxically, farmers without formal support tend to favour local practices and plant extracts, initiatives that some NGOs and agricultural projects support and promote.
In terms of toxicity, the study shows that 11% of insecticides registered for agricultural use in Burundi are classified as “extremely toxic” or “very toxic” (Classes Ia and Ib). Many registered pesticides are also classified by PAN (Pesticide Action Network International) as extremely dangerous in terms of chronic toxicity (carcinogens, mutagens, endocrine disruptors, etc.), posing serious threats to human health (the right to health and to sufficient, high-quality food) and the environment. In view of these facts, Joseph Nigeze stresses the urgent need for all players, particularly public services, to put in place risk mitigation measures to safeguard human and animal health and preserve the quality of the environment.
A silent threat to health and the environment
In its study, Inades-Formation points out that the Rotterdam Convention recognises the danger of chemicals, the management of which constitutes a challenge in the management of pesticides at national level. The conditions under which pesticides are used in Burundi do not allow farmers to use them safely.
These pesticide products are often used indiscriminately by farmers who do not know how to interpret the pictograms or read the labels, which are in a foreign language, or the recommended doses. This situation inevitably leads to the inappropriate and often excessive use of pesticides, with the consequent risk of poisoning users, consumers and the environment.
According to the study, the conditions under which pesticides are distributed and stored in containers that are then reused, particularly for food purposes, could also lead to poisoning or even accidents that are often serious and sometimes fatal among the most vulnerable populations, particularly women and children. Many of the practices observed in the handling of toxic chemicals expose farmers, their families, consumers and the general public to the risk of direct or chronic poisoning, and also lead to problems of environmental pollution. In Burundi, there are no laboratories capable of diagnosing such poisoning, even though the literature tells us that pesticides can be the cause of poisoning, leading in the long term to a number of illnesses such as various forms of cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, infertility, peripheral neuropathy, epilepsy and so on.
« Without adequate monitoring systems and poison control and toxicovigilance centres, it is virtually impossible to obtain official figures and reliable statistics on pesticide poisonings, accidents and deaths. », revealed , Joseph Ningeze ,director of Inades-Formation Burundi
However, he added ,during our field visits, we heard reports of symptoms caused by the use of pesticides in rural areas: headaches being the most frequent symptom, followed by dizziness, trembling hands, nausea or vomiting, blurred vision, signs of excessive sweating, dizziness, hyper salivation, burning of the limbs, itching of the skin, stomach ache, runny nose, bloating. Nausea and vomiting are among the effects most commonly experienced.
Although the pesticide responsible has not been formally identified, there is every reason to believe that the toxic product is none other than a group of organophosphates such as Dursban, Dimethoate and Orthene.
According to the study, Inades-Formation states that the doctors they spoke to cited several cases of cancer, including laryngeal, colorectal, gastric and stomach cancers.
Inades-Formation also points out that the doctors contacted said they were unable to establish a causal link between these different forms of cancer and pesticides. They are not technically equipped to do this.
According to surveys carried out by Inades-Formation in Burundi among provincial doctors and agronomists on pesticide poisoning, pesticides provide fragmentary information. In many cases, therefore, doctors are unable to conclude that the poisoning is due to pesticides, due to a lack of training in agricultural medicine. However, a few cases of pesticide poisoning have been recorded. These include 3 cases at Musema hospital in Kayanza, 5 cases at Kayanza hospital, 1 case at Gisuru hospital in Ruyigi, 1 case of deliberate suicide with Dimethoate at the Nyakararo innovation centre in Gisozi and 1 case of poisoning with gramoxone at the research station of the Burundi Institute of Agronomic Sciences (ISABU) in Bukemba.
Between food security and health risks in Burundi
Appolinaire Masuguru, Assistant to the Programme Representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Burundi, points out that the use of active substances in agriculture is not a new phenomenon. “Farmers have always had to contend with climatic hazards that encourage disease and weaken plants, as well as pests that decimate harvests.
According to him, the FAO estimates that these diseases and pests are responsible for a 40% reduction in world harvests each year. The use of pesticides has therefore been seen as a way of securing agricultural production, by reducing the risk of major yield losses or poor preservation.
However, Masuguru was quick to point out that farmers, farm workers and rural populations living in production areas are among those most exposed to pesticides. Frequent handling of these chemicals can lead to health problems. The health effects can be immediate, manifesting themselves, for example, in skin reactions or respiratory discomfort. He also indicated that chronic effects, manifesting themselves over the longer term, have been observed. He added that several epidemiological studies conclude that there is a strong presumption of a link between exposure to pesticides and the occurrence of cancer or reproductive disorders.It is clear that the dilemma between food safety and health risks weighs heavily on the Burundian population.
To eliminate the health risks posed by pesticides to tomato growers in Burundi, a comprehensive and integrated approach is essential. This involves a gradual and sustained transition to agro-ecology and organic farming, alongside drastic measures to strengthen control and raise awareness.
Clearly, the dilemma between food safety and health risks is a major concern for the Burundian population.
Denis NTIHINDAGIZWA