MUHUTA, March 9 (ABP) – Fishermen at the Gitaza port in Muhuta commune say that artisanal fishing no longer provides enough to meet the needs of their families.
In an interview with ABP on Friday, March 6, 2026, Jean Ntakandi, a longtime fisherman, said that they are now forced to grow vegetables and other food crops to compensate for the low income from fishing.
“Before, fishing was enough to feed our families and earn a little money for other needs. Today, the catches are insufficient,” explained Joseph Misigaro, another fisherman. He noted that some periods are better, particularly when the lake is not very cold and fish rise to the surface. But these opportunities remain rare.
According to these fishermen, the techniques used are still rudimentary and outdated. Artisanal net and hook fishing, the most common method in Burundi, does not allow for catching large fish in deeper waters.
They also deplore the lack of government investment in this sector. “The government should provide resources to support this trade and understand how difficult and unprofitable it is,” they suggest.