Koala: The Youth Council for the Development of the Sahel (CJDS) initiated the “Agricultural Offensive” project on Saturday to bolster the government’s agro-pastoral and fisheries efforts aimed at achieving food sovereignty in the country.
According to Burkina Information Agency, national coordinator Soudr© Mohamed emphasized the CJDS’s goal to collaborate with traditional and customary authorities to identify arable land with the support of regional agricultural directorates. The project aims to grow crops such as corn, cowpeas, millet, beans, and peanuts to aid in the country’s pursuit of food self-sufficiency.
“Youth are the spearhead of any society, and as young people, we cannot remain on the sidelines of the agro-pastoral offensive launched by the government. This is why our organization, the Youth Council for the Development of the Sahel (CJDS), decided to launch this project called the ‘agricultural offensive,'” stated Soudr©.
Further, Mr. Soudr© highlighted the collaboration with Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) during the rainy season, ensuring part of the harvest is reserved for them. “Within our organization, we collaborate with IDPs. They support us in our activities for a fee during the rainy season. This is also our contribution to the government in supporting people affected by insecurity,” he added.
The national field activities were officially launched in Koala, within the rural commune of Saaba, spanning an area of 5 hectares and attended by traditional and customary authorities. CJDS is present in all 13 regions of the country, with each regional detachment set to initiate the “Agricultural Offensive” project locally in the coming days.
Sidnomwend© Isma«l Sawadogo, president of the CJDS, urged the youth to emulate their efforts to assist national authorities in reaching their goals. “The state cannot do everything on its own. That is why, as young people, we have organized ourselves into an association to acquire land and cultivate it. And we call on the country’s youth to mobilize for the cause,” he remarked.
Mr. Sawadogo also noted that the project’s surplus harvest would be sold at a reasonable price in local markets to fund the association’s activities.
The Burkinabe government, under President Ibrahim Traor©, has embarked on the 2023-2025 Agro-Pastoral Offensive to secure food self-sufficiency. This initiative reflects the government’s commitment to enhancing food security and promoting economic growth in Burkina Faso.