Bubanza Burundi Fertilizer Shortage: Black Market Prices Soar

• Farmers in Bubanza, western Burundi, have faced a persistent chemical fertilizer shortage since January 2026, despite paying in full for season B supplies.
• A 50-kilogram bag of urea costs over 350,000 Burundian francs on the black market, compared to the official subsidized price of 66,000 francs.
• The Prime Minister promised that chemical fertilizers would be available from September, following a census of farmers with proof of payment.
• The shortage has led to low production for rice farmers in the Imbo Regional Development Company and difficulties in land leasing.
• This Bubanza Burundi fertilizer shortage is part of a wider national agricultural input crisis, with some regions experiencing shortages for over two years.

The persistence of these supply difficulties, combined with flaring prices on the parallel market, risks further inflating production costs and affecting agricultural yields.

Farmers in Bubanza, now part of Burundi's Bujumbura province following a 2025 merger, are grappling with a severe and persistent shortage of chemical fertilizers, a crisis that has plagued the region since January 2026. Despite the agricultural season B concluding more than two months ago, numerous growers are still awaiting the delivery of fertilizers they had fully paid for. These payments were made in strict accordance with instructions issued by the Burundi Ministry of Agriculture, leaving many agricultural producers in a precarious position as their crops continue to develop without essential nutrients.

The impact of this Bubanza Burundi fertilizer shortage is particularly evident within the rice perimeters managed by the Imbo Regional Development Company (SRD Imbo). Rice farmers there are reporting significantly reduced production yields, a direct consequence they attribute to the unavailability of necessary chemical fertilizers. This widespread lack of agricultural inputs jeopardizes not only the current harvest but also the livelihoods of countless farming families who depend on these crops for their income and sustenance.

The scarcity of fertilizers in official channels has fueled a thriving black market, where prices have skyrocketed to exorbitant levels. A 50-kilogram bag of urea, for instance, is now commanding more than 350,000 Burundian francs on the parallel market. This stands in stark contrast to the official state-subsidized price of 66,000 francs, creating an insurmountable financial barrier for many growers already struggling with other agricultural production costs.

This dramatic price disparity renders chemical fertilizers largely inaccessible to the majority of farmers, exacerbating the Burundi agricultural input crisis. The economic fallout extends beyond direct input costs, impacting the land leasing market. Farm owners report difficulties in finding individuals willing to rent their fields, as prospective tenants fear they will be unable to generate sufficient income to cover operational expenses. In some instances, land rental prices have reportedly been slashed by nearly half, reflecting the profound uncertainty and financial strain within the agricultural sector.

In response to the ongoing crisis, the administration initiated a census operation between August 24 and 26, calling upon farmers with proof of payment for agricultural season B fertilizers to register. This exercise, conducted several weeks after the close of the season, was presented as a precursor to potential fertilizer distribution. Meanwhile, farmers who wish to acquire fertilizers through official channels face another hurdle: a lack of clarity on where to procure them.

During a recent public broadcast held in Gitega, Burundi's political capital, the Prime Minister made a significant announcement, promising that chemical fertilizers would become available to farmers starting in September. This Burundi Prime Minister fertilizer promise has ignited expectations among Bubanza growers, who are now keenly awaiting its swift fulfillment to improve supply through official channels. Farmers, however, are also advocating for a more fundamental change, urging the state to liberalize the chemical fertilizer market to enhance availability and ensure more affordable prices for essential inputs.

The dire situation in Bubanza is not an isolated incident; difficulties in securing chemical fertilizers are being reported across several other regions of Burundi, indicating a broader national Burundi agricultural input crisis. Some farmers in these areas claim to have endured over two years without a consistent supply of chemical fertilizers. While some accumulated backlogs from previous years in Bubanza were partially addressed during the distribution for this year's agricultural season A, current concerns remain high, particularly among those who paid for season B fertilizers and have yet to receive them.

The persistent nature of these supply challenges, coupled with the escalating prices on the parallel market, poses a significant threat to the nation's food security. These factors risk substantially inflating agricultural production costs and could severely impact overall agricultural yields. Farmers are now closely monitoring whether the government's pledge of fertilizer availability from September will effectively resolve the current shortage and prevent a recurrence of these critical issues in upcoming agricultural seasons.

Lawyers advising agricultural clients or businesses involved in agricultural supply chains in Burundi should monitor the government's fulfillment of fertilizer supply promises. Persistent shortages and black market pricing could lead to contract disputes, claims for non-delivery against state-backed distributors, or necessitate legal advice on market liberalization and regulatory compliance for agricultural inputs.

Source: Original reporting via local Burundian sources