Gnagna: The first 2025 session of the Provincial Technical Committee for Food Security (CT/PSA) of Gnagna was held this Friday, August 1, in the meeting room of the Provincial Directorate of Agriculture, Animal Resources and Fisheries (DPARAH), under the theme: “Synergy of actions and innovations: a guarantee of sustainable food and nutritional security in the Eastern region.”
According to Burkina Information Agency, state actors and partners involved in the field of food and nutrition security in the province of Gnagna assessed the implementation of the recommendations of the previous session. They also analyzed the situation of the current agro-pastoral campaign as well as that of food security in the province.
It was noted that the three recommendations from the last session, namely: the development of an intervention guide for humanitarian partners at the provincial level, the establishment of a health cluster, and the organization of radio programs on environmental protection, are encountering real difficulties in their implementation.
The difficult security context and the critical lack of financial resources constitute the main constraints. To address these challenges, the committee members committed to strengthening internal consultation and seeking partners to facilitate the implementation of the various recommendations that remain relevant.
On the subject of food security, the Provincial Director of Agriculture, Animal Resources and Fisheries (DPARAH), Ibrahima Sangar©, recalled the four pillars of food security, namely: availability, accessibility, stability, and utilization of products. “These pillars are strongly impacted by insecurity in the province,” he said, before calling for better coordination between stakeholders.
According to the report presented, the 2025-2026 wet agricultural season began late in the provincial territory of Gnagna, with rainfall deficits recorded in all areas compared to the previous season. Despite this, significant agricultural activities were carried out, including the sowing of cereals, tubers, and cash crops.
Support has been provided by the State and several projects, including the distribution of 124.8 tons of seeds, 429 tons of fertilizer, and several tons of livestock feed. However, challenges persist, including a shortage of field supervisors, the inaccessibility of certain areas due to insecurity, and the high cost of transportation.
In terms of food, a surge in the prices of basic products (millet, sorghum, maize, cowpeas) has been observed, exacerbating household poverty. Data on controlled slaughterings reveal a sharp decline compared to the previous year, reflecting the difficulties of market access for livestock farmers in security-challenged areas.
At the end of the discussions, the three major recommendations for the year 2024 were renewed, with the instruction to implement all related activities that do not require significant financial resources. It was also recommended that regular follow-up meetings be held to ensure the effective implementation of the recommendations.