Ouagadougou: The technical coordinator of the National Office of Major Projects of Burkina (BN-GPB), Inoussa Ouedraogo, expressed his satisfaction with the mid-term results achieved by the agricultural Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland (VDP) in the production of cowpea, rice, and okra during a tour in the Djoro region.

According to Burkina Information Agency, Ouedraogo, along with his team, visited production sites in the Nando and Guiriko regions, particularly in the communes of Pouni, Boni, and Koumbia. The BN-GPB delegation extended their tour to the Djoro region to encourage incubators trained in farming techniques by the State in Banogo and Matroukou. The team also inspected the Gbolo and Ouessa sites, located in the communes of Gaoua and Dissin, and noted significant progress by young agricultural VDPs under the Presidential Initiative for Agricultural Production and Food Self-Sufficiency (IP-P3A).

“For the past few days, we have been traveling through several regions. We have already visited municipalities in Guiriko and Djoro to assess the work of the young people. We are satisfied with the results obtained, despite the early onset of rains in certain localities such as Gaoua,” stated Mr. Ouedraogo. He highlighted the adaptability of the young farmers who had returned from training in mid-June and were faced with an already progressing agricultural season.

In Ouessa, despite the challenges, the young farmers successfully produced cowpeas and okra, showcasing their commitment to the presidential initiative supported by Captain Ibrahim Traore, President of Faso. Ouedraogo emphasized the potential for rice production in areas like the Bodigui lowlands and expressed optimism for future harvests if the VDPs start the next season earlier.

The head of the technical support zone for agriculture (ZATA) in Ouessa, Abdoulaye Tiendrebeogo, shared his anticipation for the initiative, noting the arrival of the VDP farmers in late July 2025. Natacha Some, an agricultural VDP in Ouessa, expressed pride in contributing to the national initiative and pledged to aid in achieving food self-sufficiency while disseminating the farming techniques learned during training.