General assembly of the Confederation of Farmers’ Organisations of Burkina Faso :

Agriculture is the driving force of our economy – it must be protected !

On December 7 and 8, 2006, the Confederation of Farmers’ Organisations (CPF) held its first statutory assembly meeting.

Around a hundred farmers and livestock owners from all regions of the country were present, together with a number of guests. They represented the five member organisations affiliated to the CPF.

Banners across the walls of the meeting hall expressed the main concerns of the farming community:

• Agriculture is the driving force of our economy – let us protect it!

• Family farms are the links that hold the social and economic structures together;

• The Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs): in their present form they are a threat to the various sectors of our production;

• Self-financing of farmers’ organisations – a challenge to meet.

Two presentations gave evidence of the threat the EPAs will bring for West African agriculture. It was pointed out, notably, that the EPAs are free trade agreements, which will compel African agriculture (with a low technological level and no subsidies) to compete with European agriculture (which is technologically advanced and, in addition, highly subsidised). It is obvious that the former will not be able to survive and that poverty will take hold and persist in the rural areas. There is, incidentally, not one example of a free trade agreement in the world, which has brought any improvement to subsistence farmers!

The financial independence of farmers’ organisations was also mentioned in various communications and gave rise to an in depth discussion, which ended with a formal decision.

All producers were requested to pay an affiliation fee of at least 1000 CFA francs per year, 100 of which were to be transferred to the CPF.

Since the combined membership of all CPF affiliated unions amounts to 600 000 (this was the total stated), the CPF hopes to cash in 60 million CFA francs in dues. This will, at any rate, be an opportunity for the CPF to fully measure the strength of the support it has among the rank and file.

The general assembly meeting was also the time to welcome three new organisations:

• The National Union of Rice Producers of Burkina (UNPR-B)

• The National Union of Seed Producers of Burkina(UNPS-B)

• The National Federation of Unions of Forestry Management Groups (FNUGGF)

The report of activities and the finance report were approved as well as the 2007 budget.

The Executive Committee, the Management Committee and the Auditing Committee were renewed.

In accordance with the statutes, the outgoing president François Traoré (of the National Union of Cotton Farmers, UNPCB) left at the term of his mandate, to be succeeded by Bassiaka Dao (of the National Federation of Agricultural Professions). He will thereby be presiding over the CPF for the forthcoming three-year period.

François Traoré was declared honorary president.

Given the high quality of the debates and the smooth running of the statutory proceedings, it can be said of the CPF that it has now “graduated”, in spite of its young age – 4 years only. We wish the CPF well for the future and hope that it will be heard and listened to by all, across the country. And also by the European Commission!

Koudougo, 12 December 2006
Maurice Oudet
Director, SEDELAN