Burkina Faso Fair Trade Days Highlight Challenges of Insecurity and Climate Change.

Bobo-Dioulasso: The National Fair Trade Platform of Burkina Faso organized the 4th edition of the National Fair Trade Days on November 27 and 28, 2024, in Bobo-Dioulasso. The event aimed to raise awareness of fair trade and its products among the general public, as well as to explore various opportunities and solutions to fair trade challenges.According to Burkina Information Agency, the event was held under the theme 'Fair trade facing the challenges of insecurity and climate change in Burkina Faso.' Professional organizations of producers, artisans, consumers, and partners participated in the event, which featured panels, awareness sessions, and exhibitions.At the launch of the 4th edition, Issiaka Sommandé, president of the National Fair Trade Platform of Burkina Faso, emphasized the theme's focus on two significant challenges facing Burkinabe producers: insecurity and climate change. He noted that insecurity severely impacts the agricultural sector and fair trade actors, as some farms are located in a reas with high security risks. This situation results in various consequences, such as the inaccessibility of areas by certification bodies and the inability to develop farms in certain localities.Sommandé also highlighted the effects of climate change, including droughts, floods, and extreme variations in temperature and rainfall, which significantly affect agricultural production in Burkina Faso. "The National Fair Trade Days aim to strengthen the resilience of Burkinabe producers in the face of insecurity and climate change by opening the debate to explore the different opportunities and solutions to these problems," he stated.He further explained that the event seeks to raise awareness among a broad audience about the benefits of fair trade and promote practices and policies that foster sustainable and equitable economic development in Burkina Faso. Despite efforts to promote fair trade, challenges such as access to certification, structuring of sectors, increased awareness among local consumers, and sustainable financing remain to be addressed.The initiative was praised by Dieudonné So, a representative of the Belgian Development Agency (ENABEL), and Abdoul Kadri Koura, the regional director of trade for Hauts-Bassins. Abdoul Kadri Koura underscored the importance of fair trade, aligning it with the authorities' vision to restore dignity and pursue social justice at all societal levels.Fair trade ensures that producers or processors sell their products at a fair price that accounts for production costs, contrasting with conventional trade where traders set prices for producers or processors.