Passoré: The Association for the Protection of the Environment and Rural Development (APEDR) commemorated on November 29 and 30, 2024 in Yako, World Food Day (WFD) under the banner of promoting agroecology. Agroecology stakeholders and administrative, customary and religious, military and paramilitary authorities met in Yako on November 29 and 30, 2024 to commemorate World Food Day (WFD) for the second consecutive time, celebrated on October 16 each year.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the event was placed under the theme: “Promoting agroecology and organic farming for more sustainable and resilient food systems in Burkina Faso”. This 48-hour commemoration dedicated to food and its derivative products is intended to be a platform for promoting and enhancing agroecological sectors in the Northern region. The initiative is supported by the Association for the Protection of the Environment and Rural Development (APEDR) based in Yako and specialized, among other things, in the technique of recovering d
egraded land in the region, in a context of climate change.
The ceremony was presided over by the governor of the Northern region, represented by the provincial director in charge of Culture of Passoré, Gombila Koala. Over two days, participants in this major event promoting endogenous agroecological production were treated to several panels. The first panel presented by the head of the legislation, regulation of professional, interprofessional and consular organizations, Ezzedine Bamogo focused on the theme “Roles and mandates of peasant organizations, in the provision of services to their members in the context of food systems and the agrosylvopastoral offensive.”
The second panel, delivered by the coordinator of the Béo-Neeré project, Abdoul Razack Bélemgnegré, focused on ‘Agro-ecological entrepreneurship, what alternative for successful socio-professional integration?’. The third theme was developed by the President of the NGO Terre à vie, Ali Tapsoba, and concerned: “The impact of GMOs on food.” The fo
urth panel presented by the head of the agroforestry and woody improvement program at INERA, Dr. Wendpouiré Arnaud Zida, was: ‘Agriculture and climate: ensuring the food needs of populations and responding to the challenges of climate change.’
The last communication was delivered by the technical director of the National Council of Organic Agriculture (CNABio), Souleymane Yougbaré. It focused on the theme: “major challenges of the transformation of sustainable food systems in West Africa: Specific case of Burkina Faso.”
In addition to the panels followed by discussions and debates, the actors and participants were able to discover local dishes and agroecological products exhibited in the stands of the regional fair. This celebration of World Food Day in the Northern region was also marked by the presentation of materials, prizes and certificates of recognition presented by the Association for the Protection of the Environment and Rural Development (APEDR) and its partners.
APEDR benefited from the support
of several partners, namely the NGO SOLIDAGRO, CNABIO, SPONG, Slow-Food, PRO-ARIDES, and Joseph Ki-Zerbo University for the holding of the JMA. The president of the JMA organizing committee, Sayouba Bonkoungou, during the official ceremony of the works, first made a brief presentation of the APEDR. Mr. Bonkoungou further explained that APEDR is a local development organization whose objective is to promote agroeconomics and organic farming, with a view to guaranteeing food sovereignty. He expressed satisfaction with the success of the organization while highlighting the major innovations which included, among others, field trips, visits to exhibition stands, and actions to recover degraded land.
