Kourittenga/rbia: The first meeting focused on inclusive agroecology. The High Commissioner of Kourittenga Province, Moctar Ilboudo, presided over the first regional meeting of the Burkina Faso Network of Agroecological Initiatives (RBIA) this Monday in Koupela. The ceremony was attended by local facilitators and members of the network.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the meeting was held under the theme "Inclusive agroecological territorial reconnection: revitalizing the RBIA to strengthen regional dynamics and multi-actor engagement," and took place from December 2 to December 4, 2025. Its main objective was to create a framework for exchange, consultation, and capacity building among network members, aiming to promote the sharing of experiences, the promotion of local agroecological initiatives, and the building of synergies for a sustainable and inclusive transition. To date, seven training sessions have helped to strengthen the capacities of more than 50 organizations. Burkina Faso now has 137 local agroecological facilitators active in 17 regions and 30 provinces.
According to the president of the RBIA, Souleymane Belemgnegre, the network has been working tirelessly for about ten years to promote agroecology. "Our meeting aims to promote agroecology through local facilitators from different regions. Over these three days, there will be exchanges, sharing of experiences and practical training, particularly on the production of compost, biopesticides and other techniques promoting soil fertility," he said. Some facilitators have not yet had the opportunity to enhance their knowledge, and this session will allow them to share this knowledge with their communities upon their return.
Officially established in 2018, the RBIA now brings together diverse actors such as local facilitators, producer associations, cooperatives, and young entrepreneurs. They share a common vision of peasant, solidarity-based, systemic, and resilient agroecology. The National Technical Coordinator of the RBIA, N'Golo David Coulibaly, specified that on the sidelines of this meeting, two school gardens were developed and financed by the network to serve as practical frameworks for ecological learning. "The idea is to meet with the students and the management committees of these gardens. We always remind our facilitators that they are ambassadors of agroecology and must be accountable to their communities," he explained.
Naaba Koalga of Koulgoudogo, a founding member of the RBIA, who came from Ziniare, highlighted the advantages of agroecology. "Agroecology brings us back to nature. Animals and insects contribute to soil fertility. If these living beings did not exist, our lands would become sterile. Recognizing their role means understanding that we are part of the same ecosystem," he reminded.
The High Commissioner of the Kouritenga province, Moctar Ilboudo, congratulated the RBIA for choosing his province. He reaffirmed the government's commitment to promoting sustainable agriculture. "Agroecology is an essential component of our agricultural strategy. As President Thomas Sankara said, we must ensure food security and sovereignty without depending on chemical products," the High Commissioner stressed. According to him, agroecology respects the environment, human and animal health. The RBIA is a force for production, awareness-raising, and advocacy.