Kenedougou: The Orodara High Court sentenced, on Thursday, September 25, 2025, two representatives of the Association of Agricultural Input Retailers and Wholesalers (Agrodia) for the misappropriation of 268 bags of state-subsidized fertilizer, equivalent to 13.4 tons.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the facts date back to July 2025, when irregularities were reported in the agricultural input distribution circuit in Djigouera. An audit, coupled with alerts from agricultural technicians stationed in the field, revealed the fraudulent exit of several bags of fertilizer intended for local producers.
The two defendants, OB and BH, were responsible for managing state-owned input stores in Djigouera. They were arrested on suspicion of reselling outside the official channel. In court, they admitted the charges against them. They also indicated that they had redirected the bags of fertilizer to fruit growers in the commune of Orodara, at market prices.
The testimony of agricultural technician ZA, stationed in the locality, was deemed decisive. She recounted that the defendants, after initially denying the charges, had attempted to obtain electronic validation codes for the vouchers in order to sell the diverted bags stored in Orodara-which she refused. They then allegedly approached another member of Agrodia at the provincial level, BS, to intercede on their behalf to obtain voucher codes. They also allegedly mentioned to BS the availability of two million CFA francs to regularize their operation on the digital platform dedicated to the distribution of inputs.
After analyzing all the evidence in the case, the public prosecutor considered that the offense of breach of trust had been constituted, even though all the bags of fertilizer had been returned under pressure from Agrodia members before the hearing, after having been stored for approximately two months in a warehouse in Orodara. The prosecution requested an 18-month suspended prison sentence and a fixed fine of 500,000 CFA francs for each of the two defendants, accompanied by judicial constraints.
In its deliberations, the court reduced the sentences. BH, who was found to be the main perpetrator, was sentenced to 12 months in prison, suspended, and a fine of 500,000 CFA francs. OB, on the other hand, was given a fine of 500,000 CFA francs, of which 300,000 CFA francs were suspended and 200,000 CFA francs were suspended. Both sentences carry a two-month judicial restraint.
After the announcement of the verdict, the judge reminded the convicted persons that they have 10 days to appeal the decision.