Bobo-dioulasso: The 2nd military region has developed 7 hectares at Camp Ouezzin Coulibaly, with the support of the National Office of Major Projects of Burkina (BN-GPB), redeploying war wounded to cultivate pineapples, soybeans, and wheat, and to develop livestock, as part of the Presidential Initiative for Agricultural Production and Food Self-Sufficiency.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the developed perimeter of the Ouezzin Coulibaly camp extends over 7 hectares and includes two components: agriculture and livestock farming. Soybean cultivation takes place on 2 hectares, 4 hectares are being developed for wheat cultivation, and 60,000 pineapple plants have been planted on 1 hectare, in addition to market gardening. Pineapple production lasts 14 months before harvest.
For livestock, the site houses a chicken coop, a fish farm, and a 7-head pigsty, which includes 6 sows and 1 boar. The pigsty comprises 3 pens for females, 2 pens for pregnant sows, 1 pen for piglets, 2 pens for fattening, and 1 pen for boars. The site also includes a pen for sheep and goats.
"On this site, we have agricultural production and a livestock section. In terms of livestock, we have small ruminants, pigs, and also poultry. Regarding the agricultural site, we currently have two hectares of soybeans and one hectare of pineapples. The other four hectares currently being developed are intended for growing wheat. We are also switching to market gardening," said the commander of the 2nd Military Region, Colonel Lassan© Porgo.
He specified that the employees working on the site are mainly those wounded in operations, trained with the support of the National Office of Major Projects of Burkina, in livestock and agriculture, to enable them to take care of the production intended mainly for feeding the FDS in the barracks.
"We redeploy soldiers wounded in operations here after training them. The goal is to provide them with qualifications and enable them to further contribute to the country's development through production. Because they fought for the country, they were injured. We must not abandon them under the pretext that they can no longer be deployed. The production from this site is primarily intended for the FDS and the organizations that prepare their meals," Colonel Porgo confided.
In addition to their work on the ground, the FDS contribute through these activities in the barracks to the Presidential Initiative for Agricultural Production and Food Self-Sufficiency, with a view to fully achieving food sovereignty.