OULA: In an effort to combat land degradation and enhance agricultural productivity, the NGO Help launched the "Kick Start" package in Ziga village, Oula, as part of their "Soonré" project. This initiative aims to educate local farmers on effective cultivation techniques and has already enrolled 400 producers across the North and Central North regions of Burkina Faso for the 2024-2025 agricultural campaign. According to Burkina Information Agency, the "Kick Start" package includes a comprehensive set of agricultural practices designed to improve soil fertility and crop yields. During a field visit on Thursday, October 10, the NGO demonstrated these techniques in action on a 0.65-hectare plot owned by local farmer Irisso Savadogo. Savadogo, along with 199 other beneficiaries in the Northern region, received training, improved seed varieties, and organic fertilizers to aid in the recovery of degraded lands. The field day in Ziga was attended by all project beneficiaries from the Northern region, alongside mun icipal authorities and technical partners. The initiative provided hands-on experience in good agricultural practices and showcased the tangible benefits of the "Kick Start" package, which is expected to yield 725 kg of sorghum and 187 kg of cowpea from Savadogo's plot alone. Following the field visit, discussions were led by Help's agricultural specialist, Abdoulatif Kiendrebéogo, who emphasized the importance of replicating this year's successful practices in future seasons. "We want to ensure that the beneficial techniques promoted through the 'Kick Start' package are adopted widely," Kiendrebéogo stated. He also highlighted the need for continued support and advocacy from current beneficiaries to extend the reach and impact of the project. Moussa Ouédraogo, President of the special delegation of Oula, expressed gratitude towards NGO Help and its partners for their dedication to the project's success and stressed the necessity for adapting agricultural strategies in response to climate change. The event concluded with the NGO Help recognizing the efforts of Irisso Savadogo by providing additional resources such as fertilizer and farming tools to support the upcoming agricultural season, encouraging him and other beneficiaries to continue promoting and implementing the learned practices. Source: Burkina Information Agency