The Minister of the Environment, Agriculture and Livestock Déo Guide Rurema hosted a press briefing on Wednesday, March 18, 2020, in order to bring to the attention of the public the progress of activities in the coffee sector, since the establishment of the Office for the Development of Coffee in Burundi (ODECA).
During this press briefing, Minister Deo Guide Rurema indicated that since the establishment of the ODECA on January 07, 2020 and its bodies on January 24, 2020, this Office has been working hard to conduct the activities of the coffee sector in the current campaign (2020-2021) and the results are satisfied.
He pointed out that since February 03, 2020, 71 pulp-washing stations and the Buterere dewatering and packaging plant have been handed over and taken over between SOGESTAL and ODECA. The management of the remaining stations, said to be specific to SOGESTAL, is being analyzed, the minister said.

The Minister in charge of Agriculture Déo Guide Rurema also indicated that 106,400.5 kg of cherry A coffee and 16804 kg of cherry coffee B are already collected at the Peeling Stations (SDL) by the ODECA and private companies. He also announced that the first payment will be made in the first decade of May 2020. For this reason, he asked all concerned to respect the deadlines.
Minister Déo Guide Rurema thanked those who had already provided the documents. And to announce that March 25, 2020 is the deadline for submitting the security or bond for the granting of licenses to private pulpers. After this period, the ODECA will take measures to collect the cherry without takers, he insisted.
Minister Rurema emphasized that 44 cooperatives of coffee farmers who are members of COCOCA intend to open washing stations during this week in areas where cherries have reached maturity. “Until March 31, 2020, the Office for the Development of Coffee in Burundi ODECA (ODECA) will have received from the Government of Burundi a sum of 34 billion from the Government of Burundi to carry out its activities,” said the Minister.

Minister Rurema warned malicious people who want to cause panic among coffee farmers and said that whoever is caught will be punished in accordance with the law in force. It reassures coffee farmers, ensuring that the Government of Burundi is working to ensure regular monitoring of this sector.

Finally, he called on the general population, the administration, the police, the security forces, the judicial authorities and all those involved in the coffee sector to work closely together in order to curb the illegal sale of coffee in neighboring countries.