• Fri. Mar 29th, 2024

ISABU offers new formulas for using FOMI plant fertilizers

ByWebmaster

Dec 13, 2021

Bujumbura December 13th (ABP) – The Ministry of the Environment, Agriculture and Livestock, in collaboration with the FOMI factory, organized on Thursday, December 9, 2021, in Bujumbura, a workshop to present the results of research on the performance of organo-mineral fertilizers manufactured by the FOMI factory, on food and industrial crops.

That workshop was an opportunity for the researchers of ISABU and those of the University of Burundi to present to the participants the promising doses of fertilization for the crops of potato, rice, maize, tea, coffee, sugar cane and patchouli (Umuravūmba). They also shared the experience with stakeholders in the field of soil fertilization to better orient research in this area and to make available to users the optimal doses of fertilization resulting from research in order to obtain good agricultural yields.

The director of soil fertilization in the ministry in charge of Agriculture, Mr. Elias Ngendabanyikwa, recalled that all the crop fertilization formulas used in the country until 2019 were established on the basis of mineral (chemical) fertilizers, which are sometimes seen as harmful to the environment and even to health.

For this reason, since 2019, chemical fertilizers have been replaced by organo-mineral fertilizers from the FOMI factory, whose performance evaluation tests are being carried out by the Soil Fertilization Department (DFS) in collaboration with that factory. He also stressed that there is a strong degradation of the land heritage by physical and chemical erosion.

According to Mr. Ngendabanyikwa, the research results have shown the importance of organo-mineral fertilizers which goes beyond increasing agricultural yield, explaining that they also act positively on the physicochemical properties of the soil. He also reported that in order to have good crop yields, research has proposed that certain doses of fertilization change.

For potatoes, the fertilization dose of 400 kg FOMI – Imbura – and 200 kg of FOMI – Bagara – can temporarily replace the classic formula of 200 kg of FOMI – Imbura – and 150 kg of FOMI – Bagara. For maize, the fertilization dose of 270 kg of FOMI – Imbura – and 100 kg of FOMI – Tōtahaza – can temporarily replace the classic formula of 150 kg of FOMI – Imbura – and 75 kg of FOMI – Tōtahaza.

For rice, research suggests that the fertilization dose of 45 kg of FOMI – Imbura – and 300 kg of FOMI – Tōtahaza – can temporarily replace the conventional formula of 100 kg of FOMI – Imbura – and 200 kg of FOMI – Tōtahaza. He took that opportunity to inform that the fertilizer doses per pocket have not changed.

For the potato, one cap from the well-filled “Kinju” bottle for FOMI – Imbura – and two caps from the Primus or Fanta bottle for FOMI – Bagara. For maize, two well-filled Primus bottle caps for FOMI – Imbura – and one well-filled Primus bottle cap for FOMI – Bagara.

For rice, spreading is used for FOMI – Imbura – and – Tōtahaza. He reported that those results are for the food crops that the research is finished, also explaining that the research for those other crops was not yet complete. He also promised that research on FOMI organo-mineral fertilizers for other crops will continue.

ISABU Director General Dr Alfred Niyokwishimira said research is dynamic. This is to mean that those results are not final but are provisional. He mentioned the challenge of delays in releasing funds for research and also the lack of travel means to ensure regular monitoring in order to arrive at reliable results in a short time.

The deputy director general of the FOMI factory, Mr. Herménegilde Manyange, praised the good collaboration existing between the FOMI factory, ISABU, the University of Burundi and other Universities which are interested in research into fertilization of soils. He reaffirmed the commitment of the FOMI factory to follow the advice given by the researchers.

According to him, the fertilizers from the FOMI factory have come to restore the fertility of the Burundian soil, while declaring that organo-mineral fertilizers for industrial crops including coffee, tea and others are available at the FOMI factory. He also reassured farmers by indicating that FOMI organo-mineral fertilizers are available in sufficient quality and quantity.

During that workshop, the participants made certain recommendations. They asked ISABU to expand research on all food and industrial crops, to conduct research aimed at determining fertilizer formulas for Imbo and Bugesera lands that are not acidic, to make confirmation and demonstration tests for the doses that are available, to produce technical data sheets for the application and finally to adjust the period of payment of advances in relation to the new fertilization formulas.