Burundi’s food insecurity remains a growing concern despite Government ambitions
For many Burundians, the challenge is no longer simply producing food, but getting it to market. As fuel shortages, foreign currency constraints and declining agricultural output weigh on the economy, concerns over food security are once again moving to the forefront of public debate.
On World Hunger Day, a leading Burundian civil society organisation warned that food insecurity remains a major challenge in the country, urging the government to adopt urgent measures to address mounting economic difficulties.
As the international community marked World Hunger Day, Burundi’s Parole et Action pour le Réveil des Consciences et l’Évolution des Mentalités (PARCEM) painted a troubling picture of the country’s food security situation, arguing that millions of Burundians continue to struggle with access to adequate nutrition.
According to the organisation, nearly 70 per cent of the population faces chronic food insecurity, while a significant proportion suffers from malnutrition, particularly among children. The figures underscore the challenges confronting one of East Africa’s poorest nations, where agriculture remains the backbone of the economy and the primary source of livelihood for most households.
PARCEM argues that Burundi’s agricultural sector is facing structural difficulties. The organisation points to the decline of several traditional crops, falling yields in key food staples and persistent shortages of agricultural inputs needed to combat crop diseases.
The group also questioned official claims of agricultural surpluses, arguing that increased production alone is insufficient if crops cannot be properly processed, stored or integrated into the wider economy. Without adequate value chains and market access, it says, agricultural output generates only limited economic benefits.
These concerns come against the backdrop of a prolonged fuel shortage that has disrupted transportation and pushed up the cost of moving goods across the country. At the same time, foreign currency shortages have complicated imports and added pressure to an already fragile economy.
According to PARCEM, these challenges have hindered the movement of agricultural products and constrained the country’s ability to secure essential supplies from abroad. The organisation has called on authorities to adopt stronger measures, including facilitating access to regional markets and improving conditions for trade and supply chains.
The remarks reflect broader concerns about Burundi’s economic outlook. While the government has made food self-sufficiency and agricultural production central pillars of its development agenda, critics argue that shortages of fuel, foreign currency and agricultural inputs continue to undermine those efforts.
For PARCEM, World Hunger Day should serve as a reminder that tackling food insecurity requires more than increasing production. It also demands sound economic management, functioning markets and policies capable of ensuring that food reaches those who need it most.
As Burundi grapples with rising economic pressures, the debate over food security is likely to remain at the centre of the country’s political and economic discourse.
