Sanguie: As a prelude to advocating on their behalf, agricultural entrepreneurs in Sanguie received a visit last Friday from authorities who wanted to get a firsthand look at the realities on the ground. Agricultural entrepreneurs, the cornerstones of food security, face structural challenges that hinder the growth of their businesses. To address this situation, authorities in the Nando region visited the field to assess the realities before meeting indoors. The objective was to identify concrete support measures to boost the businesses of local producers.

According to Burkina Information Agency, water remains a significant challenge for market gardeners in the region. Bayala Evaro Boris, a market gardener in sector 1 of Reo, shared that despite cultivating two hectares, the lack of water forces him to cease activities as early as March or April. He explains, "Our main difficulty is the lack of water. We want to produce all season, but there are times when the water simply doesn't come our way." Boris also highlighted the high cost of inputs as a major concern. To adapt, he diversifies his crops strategically, recently selling a significant quantity of cabbage for approximately 1.8 million francs. He aims to further develop his business, emphasizing the need for irrigation infrastructure.

In the livestock sector, Pauline N'Po, a pig farmer for about fifteen years, faces financial constraints. Starting with four pigs, she now has 18 but has had to sell some to meet her family's needs. She resourcefully uses byproducts from her secondary business, making dolo beer, to feed her livestock.

Mr. Bayala's message to the authorities is a powerful call to action: "We urge our authorities to hurry up and help us, especially with water, by providing us with boreholes that will allow us to work throughout the season." The field visit and consultation demonstrate a willingness on the part of all stakeholders to find sustainable solutions to support "agripreneurship", with financing and securing access to water now being the stated priorities.