While the province of Makamba (southern Burundi) is in the middle of the harvest period, a serious shortage of fuel oil is paralyzing the mills, leading to a steep rise in the price of corn and cassava flour. This situation is jeopardizing the food security of inhabitants, who are forced to return to traditional methods of processing cereals. INFO SOS Médias Burundi

The lack of fuel has led to the shutdown of several mills, complicating the processing of cereals and tubers. Currently, a liter of fuel oil is sold for between 13,000 and 14,000 Burundi francs, a prohibitive cost (fourtimes the official price) that is paralyzing the operation of mechanical mills.

Despite the harvest season, the price of flour has reached alarming levels. A kilogram of corn flour, which used to sell for a much lower price, now costs 3,000 francs. Cassava flour costs 2,000 francs. In addition, the price of grinding has quadrupled : you now have to pay 500 francs for a kilogram of corn and 300 francs for cassava, compared to 100 francs previously.

A forced return to traditional methods

Faced with this crisis, many residents are forced to use wooden mortars and pestles to grind their cereals. A manual process that is tiring and time-consuming.

« We spend hours grinding corn and cassava, while a mill would do the job in a few minutes, » says a woman from the Nyanza-Lac district.

The increase in prices and supply difficulties are increasing the risk of malnutrition for the most vulnerable families, already affected by extreme poverty.

An urgent appeal to authorities

Faced with this critical situation, residents are urging authorities to take urgent measures to ensure the supply of fuel oil at an affordable price. The resumption of mill activities appears essential to stabilize food prices and avoid a worsening of the crisis.