CIBITOKE, Oct 15 (ABP) – One month after the maintenance period of the irrigation infrastructure of the Cibitoke irrigated perimeter in Cibitoke commune, Bujumbura province, users are being urged to maintain them responsibly and to remove anything that could cause damage. This appeal was made by the communal administrator of Cibitoke, Éloge Najeneza, who called on the population to be aware of the importance of this infrastructure for agricultural production.
He firmly opposed any threats to these irrigation canals, which serve nearly 3,000 hectares and benefit more than 5,000 households.
He specifically mentioned issues such as livestock roaming freely in the irrigated area, unauthorized construction on the infrastructure, mining activities, and others.
A similar concern was voiced by Jean Marie Hasubizimana, in charge of land use planning (at the former BPEAE of Cibitoke), who confirmed that mining and the extraction of construction materials, grazing of cattle in the irrigated area, and construction on the infrastructure are indeed taking place in many localities of Cibitoke, Rugombo, and Murambi, within Cibitoke commune.
This, he stated, disrupts water distribution and consequently lowers agricultural production. He called for the immediate cessation of all these threats to the infrastructure to ensure the efficiency, durability, and profitability of agriculture.
It is worth recalling that, in addition to maintaining the irrigation canals and repairing damaged sections, the maintenance campaign also aims to implement a unified cropping calendar for all farmers in the perimeter, promoting better management of irrigation water.