Burkina faso: Retired military personnel in Burkina Faso are turning to fish farming as a means to secure stable and sustainable income, thanks to an initiative that supports their transition to civilian life. Quartermaster Colonel Major Yamba Leonard Ouoba, Secretary General of the Ministry of War and Patriotic Defense, announced the initiative during the official stocking of the Soum dam in the commune of Nanoro.

According to Burkina Information Agency, the initiative involves fish farming in floating cages, which is expected to generate decent incomes for 61 military personnel, both retired and nearing retirement. The project is part of the government's broader agropastoral and fisheries offensive aimed at reducing fish imports and enhancing food sovereignty. The estimated annual production from this initiative is 700 tonnes of fish.

Quartermaster Colonel Ouoba highlighted that the initiative not only offers financial stability but also supports the retraining of military personnel in fish farming. The project will benefit a total of 100 members of the Defense and Security Forces and will be implemented at the Bagre, Samandeni, and Soum dams. Ouoba emphasized the importance of this venture as a life project post-retirement rather than merely a job search.

The launch event at the Soum dam was attended by the Governor of the Centre-West region, Adama Jean-Yves Bere, who officiated the poisoning of the dam. The initiative is funded by the Department of Agriculture through the Livestock Resilience and Competitiveness Project (PRECEL).

Alassane Moustapha Tassambedo, Secretary General of the Department in charge of Fisheries Resources, elaborated that the Soum dam will accommodate 61 beneficiaries with 122 cages installed for fish farming activities. He projected a total production of 1,500 tonnes across the three planned sites, with 700 tonnes expected from the Soum site alone, generating nearly one billion FCFA for the communities.

Tassere Gamene, the spokesperson for the beneficiaries, praised the government initiative, acknowledging its role in providing a meaningful and productive way for retirees to spend their years post-service. He assured that the beneficiaries are committed to fulfilling the expectations of contributing to Burkina Faso's food sovereignty.