MWARO March 13th (ABP) – The Minister of the Environment, Agriculture and Livestock, Sanctus Niragira, met on Thursday, March 9, the heads of decentralized services, administrators, representatives of NGOs and the people of Mwaro province.
In his welcoming speech, the chief of staff in the office of the governor of Mwaro, Athanase Ciza, said he was satisfied with the availability of organo-mineral fertilizers which arrived in time for cropping season B. In the environmental sector, he indicated that the Mwaro province occupies the first position in the government program “Ewe Burundi Urambaye”.
Regarding the challenges, he cited, among others, the delay in salaries for ISABU staff, lack of agricultural rolling stock, insufficient veterinarians, lack of laptops and others. Mr. Ciza asked the Minister to plead for the modern exploitation of the marshes to multiply the production, especially during the dry season.
Taking the floor in turn, Minister Sanctus Niragira said that the agriculture and livestock sector supports the population at 84%. It gives more than 90% of what Burundians consume. It contributes about 40% of the gross domestic product. This is the important sector, once developed, the country also develops, he noted, stressing that the government has put that sector among the priorities.
Moreover, he promised that soon there will be demonstration fields. Regarding the equitable distribution of stakeholders in development in the provinces, Mr. Niragira said that there will be a related mapping. Regarding the lands that have been handed over to the State in Rusaka and Ndava communes, they are in preparation for their legal management, he added.