In its edition of September 24th the daily paper LE PAYS reports from the latest debates  among the members of Parliament of the ADF/RDA  (Alliance for Democracy and Federation/African Democratic Rally - a grouping of several political parties, the liberals, the party of independents and the major opposition party of Burkina Faso) aliance on the subject of a policy for food security. As will be seen from the article below, the National Confederation of Farmers’ Unions (CPF - Confédération Paysanne du Faso) is no longer alone in calling for a  solid agricultural policy as the only way to achieve food security. The MPs are questioning the Government. What are they waiting for to launch a parliamentary debate on this issue?

François Somé of LE PAYS writes:

The Members of the ELEPHANT party gathered  on Saturday 20^th September at the Training College of the Diocese of Diebougou, CDFA, for their second edition of the parliamentary discussion days to talk about a policy for food security.

The prices of food and cereals  have been rising sharply for a couple of months and have put such strain on the majority of our citizens that the situation is worrying”.  It was this state of affairs that led the President of the ADF/RDA, Mr Gilbert Noël Ouédraogo to choose food security as the main theme for the discussion days. Mr Augustin Ouédraogo, Chairman of the ADF/RDA parliamentary group said the choice came very timely as food security is a “hot” issue at present, besides being a permanent alliance concern. For the leading alliance officials it is increasingly a matter of boosting the value of local production. Thus the various farming communities have been making an effort during this season to produce additional local crops in order to meet the challenge of the rising cost of living.

These discussion days will certainly contribute to advent of a stronger agricultural policy, which should enable Burkina Faso to become self-sufficient, according to Kombatersour Nicolas Da, the Deputy Mayor of Diébougou and chairman of the organising committéé for the discussion days. Severely affected by the high food prices, activist ADF/RDA alliance members from  Bougouriba, Ioba, Poni, Noumbiel and other provinces heeded the call and came to listen to the strategies and policies  for a good agricultural production outlined by the alliance. For two days the participants  worked on strategies for good  production, conservation and marketing.

IMr Gilbert Noël Ouédraogo confirms that on this point members are in agreement with the Government line on agriculture at present, in particular as regards the support to producers through  supplies of agricultural inputs (fertiliser and pesticides),  advisory services,  guarantees for land tenure and tax incentives.  However, the ADF/RDA is convinced that  the problem of food security is of main concern to many other states, because it is the basis for any future food sovereignty. Therefore any agricultural policy, however perfect, should always be subject to continuous scrutiny and adapted to new realities. It came naturally to the group to decide that an overview of the current agricultural policy should be made in order to better adapt it to the needs of the populations.

Two experts from the Ministry of Agriculture gave lectures on current policies. MPs and alliance officials from the national executive met rank and file members for a direct exchange of views on topical alliance issues. During these meetings various groups of young  people, women and elderly members reiterated their support to the alliance before bringing up their  problems. The president thanked the members and added that it is by acting in unison that they will be able to find a solution to their difficulties. The alliance honorary president for life, Mr Gérard Kango Ouédraogo also took the floor for a long flash-back on the glorious past of the alliance and asked the rank and file to always have faith in the ADF/RDA.

At the closing session the MPs reported to the public on the outcome of their overview of the agricultural policy.  They believed the Government should produce and carry out a more consistent policy  based on food security. They recommend that the Government introduces subsidies for agricultural implements and inputs, the broadcasting of TV debates for people involved in agriculture, provides information and education  on off-season crops by building dams and water retention devices, improves training by starting farming schools at secondary level, that its revitalises the CPRs and rural schools. They also called for better roads to facilitate the transport of agricultural products. Finally they recommended protection against an uncontrolled influx of imported farm products. 

François Somé

“LE PAYS”