Ouagadougou: The National Office of Major Projects of Burkina Faso (BN-GPB) embarked on a tour to evaluate the agricultural output of fields cultivated by the Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland (VDP) in the agricultural sector. The initiative resulted in the production of 15 hectares of cowpeas, with 12 hectares in Pouni (Nando) and 3 hectares in Koumbia (Guiriko) under the Presidential Initiative for Agricultural Production and Food Self-Sufficiency (IP-P3A).
According to Burkina Information Agency, the technical coordinator of the IP-P3A, Inoussa Ouedraogo, explained that the tour aimed to assess the progress of the initiative, which involves 2,000 young trainees installed in 80 municipalities. During the first day of the tour, the focus was on the communes of Pouni and Koumbia, where young farmers successfully produced cowpeas.
Ouedraogo also noted that in the commune of Boni, the incubated farmers cultivated 1.5 hectares each of rice and corn. Despite facing water stress issues at the Boni site, plans for acquiring a motor pump to facilitate irrigation are underway.
Efforts are being made to organize the harvest and prepare for the next agricultural campaign. Ouedraogo expressed satisfaction with the dedication of the young agricultural VDPs, highlighting the involvement of over 200 women and local authorities in supporting the initiative.
Ouedraogo emphasized the support these young farmers have for the vision of Captain Ibrahim Traore, who prioritizes youth employability. The government is committed to assisting them in achieving their goals.
Lambert Neya, representing the incubators in Pouni, reported that the young farmers effectively applied their training, resulting in satisfactory yields. Despite challenges such as distance from home and lack of equipment, the VDPs demonstrated determination to succeed.
The initiative was praised by Betiou Nebie, the representative of the chief of the village of Valiou, for contributing to the fight against food insecurity. Nebie commended Captain Traore’s vision and affirmed the support of customary authorities for the young farmers.
Incubatees Mathieu Lowa and Mariam Diallo also expressed their appreciation for the IP-P3A and urged their peers to enhance their commitment for increased production in future campaigns.