Namentenga: The President of the special communal delegation (PDS) of Boulsa, Issaka Sangla, chaired the first edition of the promotional day of the endogenous canteen of Namentenga under the theme "Sustainability of the endogenous school canteen, what endogenous strategies for achieving the objectives." For the occasion, it was for the commune of Boulsa to seek strategies to promote an endogenous canteen.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the event highlighted the significant contributions of 34 school fields that covered an area of 39.67 hectares, producing 26.58 tonnes of food including cowpea, sorghum, maize, and peanuts. Additionally, 83 schools in the province mobilized 42.59 tonnes of food for their respective endogenous canteens, as stated by the Provincial Director of Preschool, Primary and Non-Formal Education, Ouiraogo Bernard Kabor©.
The promotional day was under the patronage of Dr. Laurent S©dogo, the former Minister of the Environment, and was attended by financial and technical partners of the province. However, school canteen supervisor Souleymane Zinaba noted that the security situation and limited parental involvement in production efforts affected the desired yields.
Mamadou Sidib©, the Director in charge of Agriculture, assured attendees of the availability of farming equipment, tractors, cultivators, and agricultural inputs as part of the government's agro-pastoral and fisheries initiative. He emphasized the readiness to assist as long as needs were expressed by the community.
Laurent S©dogo, the event's sponsor, emphasized the importance of nutrition in personal and academic success, sharing his own experiences as an example. He urged partners and education stakeholders to actively participate in achieving food self-sufficiency, which he described as a symbol of independence and dignity.
The PDS expressed gratitude to organizations including NGO APIL, CRS B©oogbiiga, and the Wendkouni association for their essential support in providing food, equipment, and technical assistance. Recognition certificates and in-kind prizes were awarded to associations and parents who excelled in their contributions.
The event also featured artistic performances by students and teachers, visits to school produce samples, and tastings of local dishes.