SUMMARY REPORT OF THE PLENARY SESSION OF JUNE 26, 2023

The year two thousand and twenty-three, on the twenty-sixth day of June, senators met in the hemicycle of the Senate in Gitega for the 143^rd plenary session of the sixth legislature to debate an oral question addressed to the Minister of Environment, Agriculture and Livestock. This session was chaired by the Right Honourable Speaker of the Senate, Mr. Emmanuel SINZOHAGERA. The session, which saw the participation of 26 senators and the representative of the Government, Mister Sanctus NIRAGIRA, began, as usual, with a prayer at 10:44 a.m.

Opening the session, the Speaker of the Senate first greeted the Honourable senators present before inviting them to adopt the modified draft programme of activities for the period from June 13 to 30, 2023.

Then, after a word of welcome to the Minister, the floor was given to him to answer the questions of the Referred Committee and those of the senators under the general debate.

Asked whether the harvest was satisfactory for season B compared to expectations, Sanctus NIRAGIRA replied that it was satisfactory despite the vagaries of the weather which were observed in some regions.

Regarding the measure prohibiting the sale of certain food products such as cereals outside the provinces of production, the Minister indicated that this measure was taken temporarily pending the fixing of the cost to the producer, to prevent certain speculative traders from buying these products at a low price to sell them at an exorbitant price.

As for the breeding of rabbits, breeders mention the various usefulness of rabbit urine in agriculture as fertilizer or medicine for plants.

The senators wanted to know what the Government plans to help breeders on the one hand, and farmers on the other hand to take advantage of the benefits of this product. To this concern, the Government Representative indicated that the Ministry, in collaboration with ISABU, plans to carry out research studies on this to confirm or not this hypothesis in order to provide the necessary guidance.

To the concern of senators regarding the follow-up of agreements or conventions signed between the Republic of Burundi and certain countries or associations in the sectors of the environment, agriculture and livestock, especially the one signed between the Republic of Egypt and the Kingdom of Morocco, the Minister replied that there are commissions set up to follow up, given that the effective implementation of agreements or conventions requires other steps to be followed.

As to when the distribution of chemical fertilizer for the next cropping season will take place, the Minister replied that the general directorate in charge of agricultural planning will soon proceed with its distribution. Almost all the necessary quantity is already available in stocks, specifies the Minister.

In connection with the state of health of the Burundi Tea processing plant (OTB), Sanctus NIRAGIRA indicated that the major challenge which risks agonizing the plant lies in the level of equipment which requires enormous investments to be replaced.

Concerning the concern of elected officials about the products of OTB and ODECA sold in Mombassa, and which probably causes a considerable loss of earnings for the country, the Minister replied that the finding of loss is shared. However, reassures the Minister, the Government is doing its utmost to seek direct buyers in order to avoid the involvement of intermediary individuals in the marketing of these products.

After all these clarifications, senators issued some recommendations to the Government:

• Closely monitor the implementation of the agreements signed between Burundi and its partners, in order to curb in time certain problems that may hinder their proper execution;
• include young people and managers of cooperatives in this area among the beneficiaries of capacity building in the sector concerned;

• put an end to the system of agents in the sale of tea and coffee and , instead, favour direct negotiation with buyers;

• revitalize the SOSUMO and OTB factories, especially by renewing their equipment, so that they can achieve the missions assigned to them;

• protect cultivable land, in particular by precisely defining the area intended for other activities and those reserved for agriculture;

• carry out in-depth research on rabbit breeding, so that the country in general and breeders in particular can fully benefit from its benefits.

The session, which was held in a climate of perfect understanding, ended at 16:05.