Ouahigouya: The Northern Regional Special Delegation, in collaboration with the Agricultural Entrepreneurship Promotion Support Program (PAPEA), convened a meeting to discuss the challenges faced by agricultural businesses in accessing institutional markets in the Northern region. The gathering, which took place on Wednesday, brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, including representatives from the market gardening, livestock, and meat sectors, as well as leaders from municipal delegations, private companies, and public institutions.

According to Burkina Information Agency, the discussions were centered around the theme "Removing barriers, opening markets: facilitating access to institutional markets for agricultural businesses in the North." During the session, participants analyzed various constraints that agricultural businesses encounter, such as complex administrative processes, stringent quality and certification standards, and challenges related to financing and public tendering procedures.

The meeting, which followed a similar stakeholder gathering on May 27 and 28, resulted in several key recommendations. Notably, participants emphasized the need for legislative action to promote the consumption of local products. There was also a call for the Ministry of Economy to oversee labeling and certification processes, provide support for local enterprises, and regulate competitive imports.

The discussions were guided by Naaba Koutou, the 1st Vice-President of the regional special delegation, who led the effort to identify actionable steps to support agricultural entrepreneurship in the region.