Boulgou: The High Commissioner of the Boulgou province, Domegbeguiere Constantin Dabire, led a mission on Thursday to supervise the operation of purchasing cereals and legumes from producers and agricultural cooperatives in Beguedo and Garango. This outing is part of the implementation of the Agro-Pastoral and Fisheries Offensive (OAPH), initiated by the Burkinabe State through the Ministry in charge of Agriculture and the National Food Security Stock Management Company (SONAGESS).
According to Burkina Information Agency, the farmgate collection program aims to bolster the national food sovereignty stock using locally produced goods, while providing producers with a formal framework for selling their harvests. For the 2025-2026 agricultural season, the Nakambe region has been given an overall target of 57,495 tons, across all crops, including 25,500 tons for the Boulgou province. As of January 13, 2026, nine of the province's thirteen communes are participating in the program: Bagre, Bane, Beguedo, Bittou, Garango, Niaogho, Tenkodogo, Zabre, and Zonse.
The amount already collected totals 4,325.607 tons. The crops involved are paddy rice (2,556.667 tonnes), maize (1,612.425 tonnes), sorghum (21.701 tonnes), millet (48.702 tonnes), cowpeas (26.535 tonnes), and soybeans (59.576 tonnes). At the Beguedo and Garango sites, cooperative members expressed their appreciation for the system. Souleymane Bance, from the KULESSI cooperative in Diarra, indicated that the operation allows producers to sell their products at prices known in advance, within a transparent framework. He emphasized that the weighing system strengthens trust and further motivates producers to participate in building up the strategic reserve.
The provincial director of Agriculture, Animal Resources and Fisheries of Boulgou, Pabgo Issa, recalled that the success of the operation depends on several factors, including the training of collection teams, the control of product quality and the mobilization of storage infrastructure. He clarified that payments are made based on verified weights, without practices detrimental to producers, and at satisfactory prices set by the state, distinct from local market prices. He added that, to date, the operation is progressing well and intensifying at the various collection sites.
Leading the monitoring mission, High Commissioner Domegbeguiere Constantin Dabire observed a surge of enthusiasm among producers, including those who had not initially signed any commitments. He noted that the initiative has been well received by the population and will allow the province to build up a substantial stockpile, thus contributing to food security at both the provincial and national levels. Despite the results achieved, some difficulties were identified, notably the inadequacy of collection kits and storage infrastructure. However, measures are already underway with local and provincial authorities to address these constraints and improve the system.
In Beguedo and Garango, the collection of cereals and legumes at the farm gate continues with the involvement of producers and the support of the technical services of the Boulgou Provincial Directorate of Agriculture, Animal Resources, and Fisheries. Provincial authorities express confidence in achieving the set objectives and in the province's sustainable contribution to national food security.