RUMONGE April 29th (ABP) – The province of Rumonge is renowned for its specialty in oil palm cultivation. A crop that was famous 10 years ago for its contribution to the pollution of Lake Tanganyika, an assertion by Christian Nimubona, agronomic director at the Burundi Palm Oil office (OHP).
Thus, it refers to the years before 2012, when the oil production plants which used motorized machines in time, caused significant pollution by the discharge of effluents (production waste) into the rivers tributaries of the lake. Tanganyika. He announced it to the journalists within the national network of communication and information on the reduction of risks and disasters; on tour in Rumonge province with UNDP support.
According to Mr. Nimubona, the trend was reversed from 2012. With the observation of this pollution, the OHP carried out a vast awareness campaign against the extractors for the abandonment of the discharge of effluents into the tributaries. of Lake Tanganyika. Advocating to use them rather for the fertilization of crops.
“Today this campaign which started in 2012 has already produced appreciable results”, he noted, indicating that most production units no longer throw effluents into Lake Tanganyika but use them in the fertilization of cultures. Especially since the units are mostly installed in oil palm plantations. These produced effluents are used in the fertilization of palm trees and other crops. A widespread phenomenon among farmers in the dry season who come to buy the solid fraction of effluents to use in their fields. Extractors who do not comply with these environmental requirements are liable to a fine of up to 400,000 BIF, from the OHP to discourage such cases.
A directive is applied by Gérard Ndikuriyo, an operator and owner of a palm oil production plant. “Solid palm grove waste is used in our fields and is very good fertilizer. At the time when FOMI manure is lacking, our manures are in high demand and are very efficient, the production is substantial,” he explained.
Making it known that quantities of this manure are exported to other provinces. He challenges those who still pollute the lake to abandon this behavior as long as the waste brings in money. Pascasie Ndayizeye and Anne Munyana, who buy oil palm nuts from the factories to make a profit from them, attest that they also benefit from them “the nuts that we grind are sold for the production of soap and oil, while we sell waste to farmers. We are able to ration ourselves and pay our rents because of it.”
The agronomic director at the OHP notes that the palm oil processing sector is a booming sector.
Currently, he knows a large number of processing units, “there are around 440 improved artisanal units at the national level which process more than 70% of the palm oil that they consume; most meet environmental standards”. He notes that manual, family-run artisanal units are losing ground compared to improved ones (with motorized machines). While at the level of industrial production units, environmental protection standards are followed, including that of Tanganyika, he underlined.