Bam:The Minister of State, Minister in charge of Agriculture, Commander Isma«l Sombi, recently visited the rice-growing lowland of Koulnir in the commune of Tikar, Bam province. Here, 228 producers are cultivating 21.5 hectares of rice with a projected output of 64.5 tonnes.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the lowland development, supported by the Ministry of Agriculture, offers new opportunities for the people of Koulnir, particularly benefiting women involved in cereal production. Ganabassa Drabo, head of the agricultural technical support zone in Tikar, stated that 344 plots of 625 m² each have been cleared and allocated to 228 beneficiaries.
He explained that the lowland was developed in January, and those participating in the work were allocated plots. The FKR19A rice variety, selected for its 105 to 110-day growing cycle, is expected to yield three tons per hectare, with a total projected harvest of 64.5 tons.
The ministry provided state support by sowing the land and offering plowing services free of charge, while seeds and inputs were sold at subsidized rates. Drabo noted that marketing the entire production through SONAGESS could generate over 11 million FCFA, though a portion of the harvest is intended for self-consumption.
During his visit, Commander Sombi praised the producers for their dedication and highlighted the contributions of Captain Ibrahim Traor, President of Faso, in supporting the initiative. He encouraged continued efforts toward self-sufficiency.
Community spokesperson Issaka Oudraogo expressed gratitude for government support and hoped for continued assistance during the dry season, particularly in gaining access to boreholes and inputs to diversify crops with vegetables.
The visit also included a meeting with agricultural volunteers of Tikar, where the minister urged them to organize better to enhance their autonomy and contribute to national food self-sufficiency goals. Commander Sombi's visit is part of the Ministrys follow-up tour of the Kouls region's agricultural and livestock campaign.