According to a study carried out jointly by the Burundi Institute of Agronomic Sciences (ISABU) and IFDC, 73% of arable land in Burundi is acidic. Canesius Nkundwanayo, Director General of Agriculture, Livestock, Extension, and Mobilization for Self-Development, reports that this acidity has a negative impact on household agricultural yields – an especially unfavorable situation since the agriculture sector employs more than 80% of the population in Burundi.
The Dolomite Pilot Project, as part of the larger-scale Soil Fertility Stewardship Project (PAGRIS) funded by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Burundi, seeks to mitigate soil acidity in Burundi.
Dolomite Project Manager Oscar Nduwimana and other experts in the agriculture sector have recommended that farmers in Burundi should use 25 kilograms of crushed dolomitic limestone (dolomite) over an acidic area of 2.5 ares.
Given this goal, each of the 45 communes where the project operates will use more than 100 tons of dolomite for season 2025B to improve soil acidity.
To share expertise on the use of dolomite, IFDC and project implementation partners, including local administration, local non-governmental organizations, and the Ministry of the Environment, Agriculture, and Livestock, organized a demonstration trip to Burundi’s provinces of Ngozi and Kayanza on January 21-22.
Activities began in the Ruhororo Commune of Ngozi Province, an area where dolomite is largely used inappropriately. Organizers shared with the local farmers the best practical methods for applying dolomite to correct the acidity of the soil.
“We didn’t know how to use it properly. We used to make an estimate and spread the dolomite in the field. Since I’ve been using it, there’s already been a real change – so I’m expecting the best with this new knowledge we’ve just acquired.”
Marie Rose Nibigira, a farmer from Muruta Hill
Commenting on the importance of this learning experience, Désiré Minani, Governor of Ngozi Province, remarked, “We are in the process of becoming an emerging country by 2040 and a developed country by 2060. The agriculture sector is one of the priority areas for achieving this vision. This demonstration will serve as a model for farmers in our province to combat soil acidity and increase harvests.”
In Kayanza province, IFDC and its partners demonstrated the proper use of dolomite to farmers of Kabarore Commune and Muruta Commune. Those who were already using dolomite confirmed that it had made a significant difference to their harvests; however, many were using it incorrectly.
For example, Marie Rose Nibigira, a farmer from Muruta Hill, said, “We didn’t know how to use it properly. We used to make an estimate and spread the dolomite in the field. Since I’ve been using it, there’s already been a real change – so I’m expecting the best with this new knowledge we’ve just acquired. We also have a responsibility to share it with others in the neighborhood.”
Nkundwanayo reaffirmed the government’s dedication to agriculture and acknowledged IFDC’s contributions through the Dolomite Pilot Project: “The government, through its National Fertilizer Subsidy Program in Burundi, has included the supply of dolomite to farmers to correct soil acidity and increase harvests. We salute IFDC’s commitment to the Ministry of Agriculture for its efforts to develop Burundi’s agriculture sector.”
With the government’s support through the National Fertilizer Subsidy Program and IFDC’s ongoing commitment, these efforts will contribute to increasing productivity and ensuring sustainable farming practices. As farmers begin to apply their new knowledge shared through the project’s demonstrations, the impact of appropriate dolomite use will be felt across communities, paving the way for a more resilient and food-secure Burundi.
PAGRIS is funded by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Burundi and implemented by IFDC, together with Wageningen Environmental Research and national partner Twitezimbere. PAGRIS is set to continue its activities in improving Burundian soil through June 2025.
