Ouagadougou: The Minister of Industry, Trade and Handicrafts, Serge Gnaniodem Poda, paid a working visit on Saturday to the ComoSugar Company (SOSUCO) to inquire about the state of preparation for the 2026-2027 sugar campaign.
According to Burkina Information Agency, this visit comes during the off-season, a period characterized by the shutdown of industrial facilities for equipment maintenance. Minister Poda was briefed on the ongoing rehabilitation work at the plant, where he acknowledged the technical teams' commitment and expertise. For the first time, SOSUCO's technicians successfully designed and manufactured several spare parts themselves, replacing defective equipment without external assistance. This shift in approach is a significant change from previous practices, where such tasks were outsourced, thereby reducing maintenance costs and enhancing the company's technical autonomy.
At the conclusion of his visit, Minister Poda expressed satisfaction with the efforts to rejuvenate the company. "We see that the rehabilitation is taking place gradually," he stated, highlighting the company's transition from a challenging period under private management to its current status as a public entity. He noted the improvements in production capacities and the investments made in equipment, which are expected to help SOSUCO better meet national sugar demands.
Minister Poda also mentioned plans for further projects to rehabilitate existing facilities and acquire new equipment to boost SOSUCO's industrial performance. Additionally, there is an emphasis on increasing raw material production, with directives from the highest authorities to experiment with rainfed sugarcane cultivation to complement irrigated areas. An experimental plot of over 80 hectares is already under cultivation, and the minister observed that the initial plantings are progressing satisfactorily.
"We must now produce sugarcane every year, both through irrigation and during the rainy season, to leverage significant water resources," he emphasized. This strategy is aimed at increasing the volume of cane available for processing and, consequently, boosting national sugar production to fulfill the country's needs.
Before departing Banfora, Minister Poda instructed the Director General of SOSUCO to expedite maintenance and rehabilitation work, ensuring the factory's full operational status by the start of the 2026-2027 sugar campaign. He reiterated that SOSUCO, as a public company, holds the responsibility to effectively meet the Burkinabe people's sugar supply expectations and to contribute significantly to the national policy on food and industrial sovereignty.