Ouahigouya: The Rural World Association (AMR-Burkina) has conducted a training session aimed at empowering men, women, displaced youth, and host populations in Ouahigouya. This initiative, held from November 11 to 17, focused on the manufacture and use of bio-pesticides as part of the first component of the Community Recovery and Stability Project for the Sahel (PCRSS). The goal is to promote the resilient and inclusive recovery of communities affected by conflicts, addressing food security challenges by enabling Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and host communities to produce hygienic food.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the training took place on three production sites, engaging 99 participants who became acquainted with sustainable and ecological agricultural practices. Over the course of one week, the AMR operational field team delivered 11 instructional modules. These modules covered theoretical aspects such as the definition, advantages, and environmental impacts of bio-pesticides, as well
as the dangers associated with chemical pesticides.
On a practical level, participants learned to identify local plants and materials suitable for manufacturing bio-pesticides. They were trained in preparation techniques, usage methods, and necessary precautions. Bassia Ozonan, an agricultural expert and trainer with AMR, emphasized that the objective is to foster sustainable agricultural practices while improving food security and autonomy for displaced individuals and their hosts.
Beneficiaries expressed their satisfaction with the training through spokespersons Safiétou Rouamba and Djénéba Ouédraogo from the commune of Barga. They highlighted the knowledge gained in protecting soils from pests and the potential to produce and sell bio-pesticides, thus generating income. Additionally, they acknowledged the awareness raised on issues such as gender-based violence, sexual exploitation, abuse, and sexual harassment, which are prevalent in their communities.