Ouagadougou: 'The agricultural VDPs have started working,' according to the technical coordinator of the Presidential Initiative for Agricultural Production and Food Self-Sufficiency (IP-P3A), Inoussa Ouedraogo. This announcement came at the end of a tour of the regions of Nando, Guiriko, and Djoro, where the agricultural Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland (VDP) are cultivating cowpea, corn, sesame, and okra.
According to Burkina Information Agency, for the past week, Inoussa Ouedraogo and his delegation have been visiting various production sites managed by young agricultural entrepreneurs to assess their working conditions. During his visits to Nando, Guiriko, and Djoro, Ouedraogo noted that the "agricultural production battalions," established by the government in Banogo and Matroukou, have commenced work for the 2025-2026 agricultural season.
Ouedraogo's itinerary included Pouni, Boni, Bondigui, Valiou, Koumbia, Gbolo, Ouessa, Niego, Koper, Dissin, and Oronkua, where he visited the fields of young farmers, offering advice to ensure the success of the next agricultural campaign. Informal discussions with the National Office of Major Projects of Burkina focused on site development, equipment inadequacies, and the establishment of water points for agricultural activities.
Mr. Ouedraogo, who is also the national president of seed producers in Burkina Faso, reassured the agricultural VDPs that the State is collaborating closely with local authorities to address the challenges faced by these young farmers. He highlighted the monitoring process for young agricultural VDPs, trained under the IP-P3A, with teams traveling across 80 municipalities to evaluate the progress of the agricultural campaign.
The young agricultural VDPs were trained in civics and patriotism at the Banogo camp before returning to their localities for production. Ouedraogo expressed gratitude to local leaders and the Minister of Territorial Administration and Agriculture for supporting the agricultural VDPs and praised President Ibrahim Traore for his vision.
Despite a challenging first year, Ouedraogo expressed optimism due to the commitment shown by the young farmers. He noted that cultivated areas range from 3 to 13 hectares, with some agricultural entrepreneurs traveling up to 30 kilometers to reach their sites. Local authorities and communities are fully backing the initiative to solve youth employability issues and ensure food self-sufficiency in Burkina Faso.
Koumbamouri Some, the agricultural VDP delegate for Oronkua, expressed appreciation for IP-P3A's potential to enable production in both rainy and dry seasons. Franck Hien, from Koper, praised the initiative for engaging young people in productive activities and encouraged others to join the IP-P3A to achieve food sovereignty in Burkina Faso.