Ouagadougou: The 3rd cohort of young agricultural volunteers, along with 8,000 young agricultural entrepreneurs, has successfully completed their training and are encouraged to transform Burkina Faso’s agricultural landscape. The graduation ceremony took place on Friday, June 5, in Bobo-Dioulasso, where Gaoussou Sanou, the Secretary General of the Ministry of Agriculture, emphasized the importance of applying their newly acquired skills to advance the sector.
According to Burkina Information Agency, Gaoussou Sanou urged the graduates to be role models and leverage their training to significantly impact the agricultural sector. He pointed out that the current winter season presents an ideal opportunity for these young entrepreneurs to showcase their skills and contribute to transforming the Burkinabe agricultural landscape.
Laurent M©dah, speaking on behalf of the third cohort, highlighted the comprehensive training they received. This included soil preparation techniques, sowing, transplanting, crop maintenance, and post-harvest processes. The training also covered modules on water and soil conservation, soil fertility restoration, agri-food processing, livestock farming, biofertilizers, land management, and the establishment and management of agricultural cooperatives.
M©dah expressed gratitude to Captain Ibrahim Traor©, the Comrade President of Faso, the government, and all the structures involved in the program’s implementation. He affirmed their commitment to becoming exemplary agricultural entrepreneurs, aiming for the food self-sufficiency of Burkina Faso.
Inoussa Ou©draogo, the technical coordinator of the National Bureau of Major Projects, reiterated that the initiative successfully trained and settled 8,000 young people from municipalities across the country. He noted the inclusion of patriotism and civic responsibility in the training, aligning with the development vision promoted by the authorities. Ou©draogo also announced the formalization of 335 groups into agricultural cooperatives and the mobilization of 4,335 hectares of land, despite ongoing efforts to secure farm sites in 16 municipalities.
Dr. Issa Wonni, Director General of the National Agricultural Training School of Matourkou, commended the dedication of the school’s staff in accommodating and supervising young people from across Burkina Faso. He emphasized that this initiative will greatly enhance national agricultural productivity and food security, aligning with the Presidential Initiative for Agricultural Production and Food Self-Sufficiency.