Bubanza, Burundi: Farmers worry about phytosanitary products for herds

Corn fields are destroyed by the sun. As a result, they are cut and the dried stems are fed to the cows in the form of fodder: Sometimes the cows are driven into the fields and ravage everything there. ” My cornfield was completely ravaged by the cows, I let them graze all the yellowish foliage instead of pulling them out to burn them. I could not harvest anything, everything is dry, I do not see how we are going to live with this sun, “laments Nyandwi Albert a agri-breeder of Gihanga. This inhabitant who does not see on what foot dance with the overwhelming sun adds that his fields are also destroyed by caterpillars. “I used all the phytosanitary products to get rid of these caterpillars without success,” he said.

What will become of the herds that graze these fields

“I worry about my cows grazing every day these corn fields containing these different phytosanitary ranges. I believe the often used durisban is more dangerous. The health of our cows is in danger, “said Irangabiye Nestor, a breeder of Muzinda. These farmers believe that it would be more efficient for those in charge of agriculture and livestock to clarify the consequences of these products. “It will help us to stay with at least our herds because we no longer count on agriculture to ensure survival,” hammers a Gihanga farmer.

Pascasie Sinzinkayo, livestock development manager at DPAE Bubanza explains that the concerns of these breeders are well founded. “These phytosanitary products can be detrimental to the health of consumers, especially those animals of which the breeders speak,” she said. However, the consequences of these products depend on several factors: the spraying period, the type of product and the quantity involved.