KOURITTENGA: The High Commissioner of Kourittenga province, Moctar Ilboudo, recently visited a newly developed rice-growing lowland in the village of Dassoui, situated within the commune of Dialguaye. This 20-hectare development, spearheaded by the Belgian Development Agency (ENABEL), is part of a broader effort to support sustainable food security in the region.

According to Burkina Information Agency, the rice-growing initiative is operated by 258 producers, including 105 women and 20 internally displaced persons. The project aligns with the Agropastoral and Fisheries Offensive, a national strategy aimed at ensuring food security. Bassoubam Kaboré, the agricultural value chain project manager at ENABEL, emphasized the agency’s commitment to working closely with local stakeholders to meet the community’s needs. He noted the satisfaction among the community and the achievement of targeted results with the support of regional and local authorities.

Initiated in 2024, the project is expected to yield an estim
ated total production of 90 tonnes of rice for the current agricultural campaign. ENABEL plans to enhance this initiative through measures like land security and infrastructure improvements, including dikes and drilling for market gardening. Kaboré highlighted the goal of fostering peaceful coexistence among farmers and breeders.

Adama Oubda, the Village Development Advisor of Dassoui, remarked on the site’s revitalization, attributing it to ENABEL’s efforts and community cooperation. He expressed gratitude for the agency’s support in providing seeds and fertilizers and called for continued collaboration to maximize the project’s benefits.

During his visit, High Commissioner Moctar Ilboudo lauded ENABEL’s initiative and urged the community to maintain their commitment to the project’s success. He emphasized the alignment of this activity with the government’s vision for food security and job creation, particularly for the youth. Discussions also touched on the importance of securing land for the lowlands, a
priority shared by both local producers and the government.

The developed site spans 20 hectares and is divided into 320 plots, with each plot averaging 0.0625 hectares per producer.