Centre-Est: Trainees from the National School of Livestock and Animal Health (ENESA) organized, in partnership with the school administration, a study trip which ended Saturday in Tenkodogo. This immersion, which lasted four days, aimed to strengthen the practical skills of the trainees in model agro-pastoral and fishing structures.
According to Burkina Information Agency, Dah Si©, a first-year livestock engineering student and the school’s general delegate, explained, “We organized this caravan, which began with a visit to the Veterinary Medicine Purchasing Center and floating hutches, an innovation in the field of fish farming, at the Loumbila dam. Then, we visited the livestock market and the Pouytenga fattening unit. In Tenkodogo, we were able to visit Marcel Minoungou’s integrated farm, a SCOOP of widows who engage in cattle fattening. In Bagr©p´le, we visited the feed production site, and we ended with a conference led by an experienced person who works in animal production, to share experiences with the future agricultural entrepreneurs that we are.”
The trip offered a comprehensive learning experience, though, as Dah Si© noted, “The four days were not enough; we were unable to visit the Bagr© Ecotourism Center or the Koup©la fertilizer production unit. However, I can tell you that 95% of the objectives were achieved.”
For Tinssara Sourati©, a technical officer in livestock and animal health, the caravan proved invaluable. “This caravan was very useful for us, the people in the field. I urge the senior officials at ENESA to include study and leisure trips for all students,” she stated.
Senior livestock technician student S©nabou Dah also found the trip beneficial, remarking, “This immersion is welcome, because alongside the theory, we see a bit of practice. I was touched by the Pouytenga fattening units, which demonstrate that it is possible to come together and work as a community. This unit had a big impact on me and gives me ideas for other opportunities. In addition to the theory, we need to be able to see and understand certain parameters.”
Speaker Marcel Minoungou emphasized the potential for job creation in Burkina, saying, “There is plenty of room in Burkina for technicians to create jobs for the future. Moreover, I would like young people to take vocational training that opens the doors to employment. This morning, we tried to shed some light, in our own way, to tell them that it is on the ground that we understand better.”
This immersion in the Centre-East region provided a valuable opportunity for the trainees to consolidate their theoretical knowledge with practical experiences.