Ouagadougou: The "Riguikom" cooperative is using cassava cultivation as a tool in the fight against food insecurity. In the commune of Bittou, the cooperative 'Riguikom', which translates to 'chasing away famine' in the national Moor© language, based in Zekeze, is making its mark in the production of cassava, with a view to contributing to achieving food self-sufficiency. Located not far from the Nakambe River, in the village of Z©k©z©, this agricultural initiative intends to contribute to achieving food sovereignty while generating income for its members.

According to Burkina Information Agency, the cooperative's president, Ado Sawaodogo, stated that the creation of Riguikom was the result of advice from agricultural agents, who encouraged producers to form a cooperative in order to better structure their activities. "We responded to this call by organizing ourselves and choosing a meaningful name. Today, we cultivate a large area entirely dedicated to cassava farming," he explained.

Cassava production appears to be a profitable activity in the area. The price of a 100-kilogram bag varies between 15,000 and 25,000 CFA francs, depending on the season, thus offering promising economic prospects for producers. For the current season, the cooperative aims to achieve a production of at least 300 tons.

Despite these advances, the Riguikom cooperative faces several difficulties. These include a lack of technical training, insufficient equipment for cassava processing, and constraints related to acquiring quality cassava stalks. Faced with these challenges, Mr. Sawaodogo is appealing to the authorities and partners in the agricultural sector to provide more support for local initiatives. For him, enhanced support would not only increase production, but also develop cassava processing, thus creating more added value and jobs in the commune of Bittou.