Burundi: FOMI Fertilizer Distribution Crisis Sparks Farmer Protests

• Burundi is facing a severe agricultural crisis due to widespread delays and insufficient distribution of fertilizers by the monopoly supplier, FOMI.
• Farmers are being forced to plant without essential inputs, leading to fears of decreased yields and worsening food insecurity across the nation.
• Protests have erupted, such as in Matongo, where farmers demonstrated against inadequate fertilizer sharing.
• A black market for fertilizers has emerged in regions like Bubanza, with prices for urea soaring to over 10,000 Burundian francs per kilogram, significantly higher than the official subsidized rate.
• Farmers are also struggling to obtain refunds for fertilizers paid for but never delivered in previous seasons, further hindering their ability to purchase inputs for the current season.

The inability to access necessary fertilizers, particularly from FOMI, means that many cultivators face a difficult choice: either plant immediately and risk a meager harvest due to depleted soil, or postpone planting while awaiting supplies, thereby missing the optimal window for cultivation.

Burundi's agricultural sector is grappling with a severe crisis as the A farming season commences, marked by widespread delays in fertilizer distribution, insufficient quantities of product, and significant hurdles in securing refunds for previously undelivered supplies. The primary supplier, Fertilisants Organo-Minéraux Industries (FOMI), which operates the nation's sole organo-mineral fertilizer production plant, is at the center of these issues. As of October 27, 2026, despite favorable rains for planting, many farmers are compelled to sow their crops without essential inputs, raising serious concerns about forthcoming yields and the escalating cost of food for households across the country.

This critical agricultural input shortage has plunged farmers into profound uncertainty, threatening to exacerbate food insecurity. The inability to access necessary fertilizers, particularly from FOMI, means that many cultivators face a difficult choice: either plant immediately and risk a meager harvest due to depleted soil, or postpone planting while awaiting supplies, thereby missing the optimal window for cultivation. This dilemma underscores the precarious position of Burundi's farming communities, who are essential to the nation's food supply.

The widespread frustration among farmers has already led to public unrest. On Monday, October 26, 2026, farmers in Matongo, a district within Butanyerera province in northern Burundi, staged a protest on the Bukeye-Kayanza road. Their demonstration was sparked by the inadequate distribution of fertilizers, specifically the requirement to share a single 25-kilogram bag between two recipients. Traffic was disrupted until approximately 2 p.m., when the arrival of a FOMI truck facilitated initial steps toward resolving the dispute, with Butanyerera Governor Victor Segasago acknowledging the protest and urging calm.

In other regions, the impact is equally severe. In Musasa, located in Butanyerera province's Kiremba district, many farmers have begun planting without the fertilizers they ordered, despite the arrival of rains. A farmer from Ruhata village highlighted the necessity of both mineral fertilizers and organic manure for a decent yield from the depleted soil. The shortage has also created a thriving black market in areas like Bubanza, in western Burundi's Bujumbura province. Farmers there report receiving only a fraction of their ordered quantities, with no assurance of full delivery. This has driven up prices dramatically, with a kilogram of urea, officially priced at just over 1,300 Burundian francs, commanding more than 10,000 francs on the parallel market.

Beyond the immediate supply issues, farmers across Burundi are struggling with systemic failures, including significant delays in obtaining refunds for fertilizers paid for but never delivered in previous agricultural seasons. This issue is particularly acute in Bubanza and Burunga province, where farmers from Rumonge, Bururi, and Matana report considerable difficulty in recovering their money. These outstanding refunds severely limit their financial capacity to purchase necessary inputs for the current farming season, trapping them in a cycle of debt and uncertainty.

The crisis extends to vulnerable populations, including Congolese refugees residing in the Musasa camp, who are also affected by the agricultural input shortage. Lacking livestock to produce manure, these refugees must purchase compost in small quantities, adding another layer of difficulty to their farming efforts. For those cultivating rented land, planting without fertilizer represents a substantial investment in an uncertain harvest. Local officials have acknowledged the delays, confirming that the quantities of fertilizer received are far below the actual demand, necessitating the rationing of limited supplies among a large number of recipients, further underscoring the widespread nature of the FOMI fertilizer distribution Burundi crisis.

Lawyers should advise clients on potential contractual disputes and liability arising from the failure to deliver subsidized agricultural inputs by a monopoly supplier like FOMI. This situation highlights significant operational and reputational risks for companies operating in critical sectors in Burundi, and the potential for government intervention or collective farmer litigation due to widespread economic harm and social unrest.

Source: Original reporting via SOS Médias Burundi