Ouahigouya: The Ledea Bernard Ouedraogo University (ULBO) of Ouahigouya marked a significant milestone with the official launch of the rice and sorghum harvests from its teaching field, cultivated by about fifteen incubatees on the Gourga site in the eastern suburbs of Ouahigouya.

According to Burkina Information Agency, this experimental field spans approximately 3 hectares and is a key component of an agricultural initiative within the ULBO incubator program. This program is designed to combine practical learning with agricultural entrepreneurship, benefiting students by providing hands-on experience. Since June 2025, fifteen students have been actively engaged in cultivating white sorghum (Sariasao variety) and rice (FKR19 variety), an effort aligned with national policies in agriculture, forestry, and livestock, as well as educational quality enhancement.

Professor Adama Oueda, President of ULBO, emphasized the incubator initiative’s alignment with national objectives to equip graduating students with p
ractical skills and an entrepreneurial mindset for self-employment. “This year, we’ve implemented an agricultural project with 15 students, and a second project on waste management will commence in December,” he stated. The Minister of Higher Education’s representative, Chief of Staff Roger Nebie, praised the initiative, highlighting the university’s role in production and entrepreneurship training in the seed sector, where the Yaadga region excels. Mr. Nebie also commended ULBO’s commitment to waste valorization in Ouahigouya, contributing to the circular economy.

Mamoudou Savadogo, representing the incubatees, expressed gratitude to ULBO’s president and technical team for their support. “We followed the guidance on technology packages and agricultural entrepreneurship training, which prepares us to confidently enter the agro-sylvo-pastoral sector,” he shared.

The harvest launch ceremony saw participation from regional authorities, agricultural officials, research educators, students, and partners like the
National Federation of Naam Groups (FNGN). They all gathered at the ULBO site to celebrate the successful harvest and the ongoing efforts of the incubated plants.