134 Scarcity and Surfeitgovernment functionaries has actedin reaction to the diversion of revenues of
the region by the central government for the benefit of other regions?'
Distribution of coffee98Coffee in Burundi is mainly grown in the north of the country, with some
sprinkling in the centre. About 850 000 families are involved in the growing
of the crop, which constitutes their primary or secondary source of income,
depending on the ratio of their coffee trees to their food production. This
income represents between 40-60% of the household cash income. Each
family has an average of between 100-300 coffee trees. Overall, it is estimat-
ed that three-quarters of Burundi's population is involved in the production
of coffee.
Two main types of coffee constitute the crop in Burundi. The favoured
high-grade arabica and the comparatively less profitable robusta. Arabica
thrives in northern Burundi. Arabica makes up over 90% of Burundi coffee
exports, while robusta, which grows in lower altitude, comprises the rest.
Whereas arabica is grown exclusively by smallholder farmers, who constitute
50% of the total coffee farmers, export grade robusta is grown on irrigated
industrial plantations in the Imbo plains.
The total land area under coffee production in Burundi stood at 115 000
hectares, (representing 4% of the country's total land surface area) in 1991,
with an estimated 200 million coffee tree. The conflict in the country has
frustrated the collection and tabulation of more reliable statistics. It is how-
ever plausible that the total land area under coffee cultivation has declined
for a variety of reasons. Low or no inputs, most important being fertilizers
and insecticides, have ensured that yields have remained less than the aver-
age international yield per tree of 0.45 kilogram.
Production structures
In order to clearly understand the production of coffee, it is important to have
a brief look at the institutional organisation of the coffee subsector:
Established in 1948, the Office des Cultures industrielles du Burundi
(OCIBU) is at the top of the pyramid of the coffee subsector. It is the govern-
ment's agency charged with regulating activities in the subsector. Its remit
includes formulating government policy in respect to coffee production, pro-
cessing, marketing, research and training. Additionally, OCIBU organises
planting programmes, distributes fertilizers and insecticides to farmers, and
maintains access roads to coffee growing areas.
The development of the payment schedule is also under OCIBU, as is the
payment of operators in the subsector and the collection of taxes from the
revenue on behalf of the government. This role is synonymous with the