Tenkodogo, Burkina Faso – The Bagré growth pole, renowned for its efficient water management, is set to play a crucial role in implementing the presidential initiative “Ensuring every child of school age at least one balanced meal per day”. This initiative is part of Burkina Faso’s broader goal to achieve food security, as stated by Dr. Alice G. Sidibe-Anago, the Permanent Secretary of the initiative.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the Bagré growth pole’s adept control of water resources positions it as a key contributor to reducing production deficits during the rainy season and ensuring sustainable agricultural production. This is essential for achieving food security in Burkina Faso. Dr. Sidibe-Anago emphasized this point during a recent visit to Bagré for journalists and communicators, focusing on how local production, food availability, and school canteen supplies are interconnected.
She highlighted that the Bagré site hosts two presidential agricultural production initiatives aimed at boosting agro-sylvo-pastoral activities and producing 190 thousand tons of cereals in the country. These initiatives are seen as foundational to the success of the school meals program, ensuring a steady and sustainable food supply for children.
Dr. Sidibe-Anago underscored the interdependence between these initiatives and the school meals program. She explained that sustainable agricultural production is critical for providing balanced diets, and the school meals program presents a potential market for these agricultural outputs. This integration is expected to enhance the income of local producers and help lift them out of poverty.
Kaboré Patrice, responsible for partnership, capacity building, and communication at the permanent secretariat of the presidential initiative, revealed that the government transfers nearly 18 billion CFA francs to municipalities annually for children’s meals. He suggested that this investment could benefit local producers by establishing mechanisms linking them with suppliers and school canteens.
In the future, the initiative aims to create a consultation framework involving various stakeholders, including producers, municipalities, and schools, to streamline these processes.
Launched in June 2021, the presidential initiative represents a significant social protection program. It aims not only to ensure food security and combat malnutrition among children aged 3 to 18 years, but also to enhance academic performance. Furthermore, it seeks to reduce poverty, especially in rural areas, strengthen local production, rural entrepreneurship, and boost the agri-food industry.
The program is supported by several UN agencies, including FAO, WFP, UNICEF, and IFAD.
During the three-day immersion program, journalists and communicators had the opportunity to explore the entire value chain of agro-sylvo-pastoral production within the Bagré growth pole, gaining insights into the initiative’s far-reaching impact.