Nayala: Rural women celebrate their day in Toma under the banner of food sovereignty. Rural women in the province of Nayala celebrated this Saturday in Toma the double commemoration of the International Day of Rural Women and World Food Day, under the theme of women's empowerment, restorative justice, and food sovereignty. According to Burkina Information Agency, the ceremony was attended by several administrative, customary, religious, and military authorities, technical and financial partners, as well as peasant organizations from the province. The event aimed to highlight the pivotal role of rural women in sustainable development and food production. Opening the session, the chief of Toma, Mr. Propre Toe, welcomed the participants and paid tribute to the deceased former leaders of the Bemba Laa Tan Federation. He urged the women of Nayala to "rise to the challenge before them" and called on the authorities to increase projects to support them. The president of the Bemba Laa Tan Federation of Cooperative Societies of Nayala, Thierry Oscar Ky, praised the mobilization and reiterated the crucial importance of women in any development strategy. He emphasized that "no sustainable decision can be made today without women." Speaking at the event, the president of the pan-African movement "We Are the Solution" recalled the nature and history of the movement, which is present in eight West African countries. She pointed out that despite their crucial role in agricultural production and seed conservation, rural women remain "the last to have access to land, financing, and appropriate training." She advocated for "strategic investment" in their support. The event's patron, Pascaline Oulene/Pare, expressed her gratitude for the honor bestowed upon the province of hosting such a national event for the first time. She paid tribute to the courage and vital role of rural women, the primary food producers and guarantors of community resilience. She made a personal commitment "to champion their concerns and amplify their vo ices." The patron also relayed the women's need for agricultural equipment, particularly tractors. Several technical presentations were then given, focusing on agroecology and climate resilience, the empowerment of rural women producers, and food sovereignty through endogenous food systems. Presenting the history of the Bemba Laa Tan Federation, Boleane Edmond traced its evolution since its creation in 1993 and reiterated its objectives of defending producers' interests and strengthening organizational capacities. The federation now has eight member unions and a fully equipped headquarters in Toma, having benefited from extensive technical and financial support. Closing the ceremony, the High Commissioner of Nayala Province expressed his gratitude for the strong citizen mobilization. He assured them that the territorial administration is committed to strengthening support for women's initiatives in agroecology, food processing, and economic empowerment. He stated that "Burkina Faso cannot recover without h alf the sky." The celebration continued with a visit to the exhibition stands, a presentation of the women's field schools, and a tasting of local dishes.