Sustain Africa’s country programme in Burkina Faso launched on the 7th of February 2024 with kick-off meetings in the capital Ouagadougou. The project will provide 20,000 tonnes of discounted fertilizer in two stages to 100,000 smallholders farmers in eight regions, with a focus on rice, maize and vegetables crops (onions, tomatoes, cabbage, peppers, squash). The […]
Sustain Africa’s country programme in Burkina Faso launched on the 7th of February 2024 with kick-off meetings in the capital Ouagadougou.
The project will provide 20,000 tonnes of discounted fertilizer in two stages to 100,000 smallholders farmers in eight regions, with a focus on rice, maize and vegetables crops (onions, tomatoes, cabbage, peppers, squash).
The programme is a collaboration between the the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Resources and Fisheries (MARAH), phosphate producer and fertilizer blender SEPB, agrodealer association Association des Grossistes et Détaillants d’intrants Agricoles (AGRODIA) and farmer co-operative Société Coopérative avec Conseil d’Administration des Commerçants d’Intrants et de Matériels Agricoles du Burkina Faso (SCOOP-CA CIMA-BF). It is implemented by IFDC.
The programme will select 70 qualified retailers, 100 Community Based Agents (CBAs) – who will work in the field to train agrodealers and farmers – and around 100,000 smallholder farmers to participate.
The programme will strengthen links between suppliers and buyers, though activities such as rural fertilizer fairs and the organisation of group fertilizer purchases. Additionally, the programme will use various communication methods, primarily local language radio stations in the 8 selected regions, to share information with farmers.
The programme will be implemented in two parts – each focused on the distribution of 10,000 tonnes of fertilizer. The first part of the programme will run to March 31, the, the second from April 1 to May 31 2024.
“As in other countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, fertilizer prices in Burkina Faso remain high – over 60% higher in 2023 than in 2020,” commented Sustain Africa Executive Director Ben Valk at the launch event. “Anything that can be done to ensure access and affordability to fertilizer for Burkina Faso’s smallholder farmers is a step in the right direction to building farmer resilience.”
