The “women and youth” programme within the Fepa-B
In Burkina Faso, agricultural training centres, which were already poorly developed, generally disappeared, and agricultural technical education facilities cut back or even halted student recruitment. With demographic growth and the cities’ inability to create new jobs in sufficient numbers, farmers’ organisations raised the issues of integrating young people and increasing productivity to allow the agricultural sector to increase its ability to accommodate them.
Elisabeth Kansolé, in charge of the “women and youth” programme within the Fepa-B
Can you introduce the “youth dynamic” programme set up within FEPAB?
This “youth” programme was initiated by the farmer leaders of FEPAB so as to be able to pave the way for the next generation to take over in farm operations and in FEPAB. This programme is an expression of FEPAB’s desire to enhance the skills of young people in order to turn them into modern farmers.
We’ve set up “youth committees” in the rural townships and also at the level of each province. They should enable the young people to meet and discuss. but always in the presence of farmer leaders. They are real technical committees, included in the FEPAB org chart, which are intended to resolve one specific problem, which is getting young people interested in agriculture and also preparing them to take over as farmer leaders.
What do you mean by the term “modern farmers”?
EK: Young farmers who are more open to technology and to modernised production techniques. Considering climate change, these young people can more easily accept innovations in agriculture.
The problem is that youths have no guarantee to offer to be given a loan. Since the Youth program was launched, youths are a priority within the Fepa-B. They help their parents working and have understood the role they can play in the takeover of the cooperative.
Victor Rabo, president of Passoré’s “youth committee”.
