Officials in Burundi’s Kayanza Province are grappling with a corn storage crisis as demand for last year’s harvest remains low. Corn produced in the region has been placed on the market by the National Grain and Cereal Company (ANAGESSA), but both traders and consumers are not purchasing the grain in significant quantities.
Deus Babahokubwayo, administrator of Rango district, expressed concerns about where to store the upcoming harvest if the government decides to buy again. “We have filled all four of our storage facilities,” Babahokubwayo said. “When it was announced that both citizens and traders could begin purchasing the corn, we thought it was a step forward. But they’re not coming to buy because they’ve already started harvesting the new season’s corn. Our concern now is, if the government buys again, where will we store the next harvest?”
In Butaganzwa district, more than 300 tons of corn remain unsold. “It’s difficult for people to buy corn when they have their own crop ready for consumption in the fields,” said Janvière Kanyana, administrator of Butaganzwa.
Both administrators have urged the government to address the issue, particularly during critical periods such as the dry season when citizens rely on the harvest.
In an attempt to boost sales, the Ministry of Agriculture, through ANAGESSA, recently launched a corn sale at a reduced price of 2,000 Burundian francs (BIF) per kilogram, down from previous prices of 2,300 BIF and 2,100 BIF. Despite these price cuts, demand remains low.
In 2023, large quantities of corn were left to rot in ANAGESSA’s warehouses due to poor storage management, raising ongoing concerns about the government’s handling of the country’s agricultural products.
