GITEGA February 24th (ABP) – The Minister of Environment, Agriculture and Livestock, Sanctus Niragira, responded to the Senate’s invitation to answer oral questions from senators on Wednesday, 22 February 2023, at the hemicycle of Gitega, the political capital of Burundi (center).
In the agricultural sector, the senators informed him of the gradual abandonment of coffee growing by the people to the detriment of food crops.
People deplore the depreciation of the coffee price and relies on food crops whose prices are appreciable, they reported. Most of coffee plantations and coffee trees are associated with other crops, added the senators while recognizing the preponderant place occupied by coffee in the national economy. They recalled that coffee is an undeniable source of foreign currency in the country.
Reacting to that concern, Minister Niragira expressed his regret at seeing the situation turn out like this. To remedy this, he announced incentives to restore that industrial crop. He cited in particular a feasibility study for increase in the coffee price, the project to expand that crop in the Ruyigi and Cankuzo provinces and the multiplication of coffee nurseries in the production regions. To senators, Minister Niragira requested their active involvement in raising public awareness of the importance of coffee.
Such a request was desired with a view to restoring cotton, the production of which is declining, according to the senators. Faced with this issue, Minister Niragira expressed his determination to revitalize cotton crop and do his best for its expansion.
For more agricultural supervision, Minister Niragira announced the increase in staff, adding that a watchful eye will be trained on them to encourage them to be efficient.
In the sector of livestock, he also announced the establishment of a Faculty of Veterinary Sciences at the University of Burundi to compensate for the lack of veterinary personnel.
In environmental matters, Minister Niragira learned of the appropriation of land by individuals in the Rukambasi nature reserve, in Makamba province. He said he will create a mission to inquire about the situation and take action accordingly.
The senators also reported cases of public lands which were allocated to individuals for well-defined purposes, but which subsequently changed their use. Minister Niragira has indicated that those lands will be withdrawn for the benefit of progressive agricultural groups.