The Confederation of Farmers’ Organisations, CPF* demands the setting up of a rural bank

The 14th National Farmers’ Day was held this year in Ziniaré, hometown of Burkina Faso’s President. Not surprising therefore that an extraordinary mobilisation of forces took place for the occasion. As in previous years the culminating moment of the celebration was the traditional debate between farmers and President Blaise Compaoré. Mr Dao Bassiaka, the head of the Confederation also took the floor.

He first spoke on the theme of water and climate change.
He then addressed a request to the President for investments in agriculture and better chances for producers to obtain loans :

« In spite of representations that we have repeatedly made for facilitated access to credit for Burkina’s producers at a subsidized rate of 7%, it still remains difficult for a farmer, even the most exemplary, to obtain a loan. Therefore our national organizations propose the setting up of a mixed capital credit society (Banque Agricole), in which farmers can also buy shares. This would mean that any farmer could by shares and become co-owner of the banking society. We are at your disposal, Mr President, for further consideration of this proposal. »

Mr Bassiaka then brought up the matter of access to public service media :

« We would again like to put forward a demand for access to public media for our information campaigns and promotion of home grown products. At the 12th National Farmers’ Day in Bobo Dioulasso, the Communications Minister promised us television 2 years later we can all se the result: no rural television yet.

We ask you, Mr. President to grant us :
·    30 minutes free TV time per month at the national channel ;
·    30 minutes free broadcasting time at the national radio channel
·    1 hour free time per month on rural radio and
·    1 page per month in the national daily paper Sidwaya »

Finally the issue of the organisation of the National Farmers’ Day (JNP – Journée Nationale du Paysan) was raised :
« At a previous Farmers’ Day, held in Kaya, it was decided to give the farmers’ unions more responsibility in organizing this event. Today we ask you to ensure that as of the next National Day farmers will be gradually is more involved in the preparations and eventually entirely in charge of organizing it. » (unquote)

Thus one will no longer be able to say that the JNP is a misnomer (and that the “P” stands for the President’s day rather than for the Peasant farmers’ day). Such an arrangement would also help strengthening the farmers’ organisations. They could also make good use of the event (which in fact is not a one day gathering, but lasts several days) to train leaders and make their work and their needs more widely known.

Koudougou, March 6th 2010
Maurice Oudet
Director, SEDELAN

*CPF – La Confédération Paysanne du Faso