Bittou: The Zekoula-Panga cooperative, located in Bittou within the Boulgou province, has been actively promoting the consumption of local rice through parboiling and processing activities of rice produced in the area, as observed by AIB.
According to Burkina Information Agency, for over six years, this community organization has been striving to promote rice grown in Bittou to encourage local populations to favor locally produced goods. This initiative also aims to stimulate rice production in the region and contribute to governmental efforts towards achieving food security.
The president of the cooperative, Kaliguetou Sare, stated that the main objective is to encourage residents to sustainably adopt the consumption of local rice. "Our ambition is to get the population used to consuming rice produced in Bittou. This also helps to encourage producers to take more interest in rice cultivation and to support government actions in the area of food security," she explained.
The Zekoula-Panga cooperative, which translates to "strength in unity" in the Bissa language, primarily consists of women who find this activity to be a significant source of income. Through parboiling and marketing locally grown rice, members can improve their living conditions and meet some of their daily needs. "Through this activity, each woman is able to cover at least some of her basic needs. It is a real income-generating activity for the women who invest in it," added Ms. Sare.
Despite the encouraging results, the cooperative faces several challenges hindering its development. The president specifically mentioned the lack of equipment as a major constraint. Priority needs include acquiring modern parboilers for improved rice processing and tricycles for transporting products to markets. Additionally, the lack of water significantly slows down certain stages of the parboiling process.
Despite these constraints, Ms. Sare expressed satisfaction with the commitment of cooperative members, who continue to work with determination to promote local rice. She also appealed to administrative authorities, technical and financial partners, and others willing to help, to provide support to the cooperative. "We are seeking support from the authorities to strengthen our production capacities and continue promoting the consumption of local rice," she pleaded.
Officially registered since 2020, the Zekoula-Panga cooperative now has more than ten active members and aims to expand its activities to contribute more significantly to local economic development and food sovereignty in Burkina Faso.