Burkina Faso/Food self-sufficiency: Authorities still determined to put Burkinabe out of need
Food self-sufficiency is a paramount goal for Burkina Faso, led by President Captain Ibrahim Traoré. Ensuring food security across the nation’s territory to reduce dependency on imports is a key priority for the head of state.
To achieve this, various initiatives have been implemented to boost national agricultural production.
These include the extensive agro-pastoral project aimed at utilizing large cultivable areas for increased agricultural output.
The government has provided significant support to agricultural actors for this new agricultural campaign, including the acquisition of equipment and agro-pastoral inputs for Burkinabe producers.
In addition to these efforts, it’s important to note that in 2022, the government took steps to ban the export of Burkinabe cereals and subsequently suspended the export of cereal flour such as millet, maize, and sorghum nationwide.
These measures were implemented to ensure access to these essential products for all Burkinabe citizens.
However, challenges have arisen as some individuals within the country have engaged in illegal activities, producing and exporting maize flour against these regulations for their own gain.
Fortunately, a network of these offenders has been dismantled by Burkina Faso’s national gendarmerie.
Following investigations based on reports, three individuals were arrested in possession of thousands of bags of flour, mills, and hullers.
These suspects face charges of illegal industrial activities, consumer deception, and endangering public safety and will be held accountable before the law.
The gendarmerie continues its investigations to dismantle other networks involved in such illicit practices, urging the public to collaborate by reporting such activities through designated hotlines such as 1010, 16, 80 00 11 45, and 17.
Cedric KABORE
