On March 26‑28, the Soil Values program participated in the 50th anniversary celebration of the Institute of Rural Development (IDR) at Nazi Boni University in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso. With the theme “Golden Jubilee of the Institute of Rural Development: Contribution to the Development of Burkina Faso, Challenges, and Prospects,” the event convened representatives from government institutions, rural sector actors, researchers, and technical and financial partners.
“In Burkina Faso, we support agricultural stakeholders with innovative solutions that address climate change and improve soil health and fertility.”
Bedeme Bayoulou
Moussa Dionou, IFDC Country Director for Burkina Faso and Mali, underscored IFDC’s role as lead partner of the Soil Values program and emphasized the organization’s long-term engagement with food security and fertilizer sector development. He noted that increasing awareness of the program helps more smallholder farmers access innovations that can raise productivity and incomes.
“In Burkina Faso, we support agricultural stakeholders with innovative solutions that address climate change and improve soil health and fertility,” said Bedeme Bayoulou, the Soil Values Field Coordinator in Burkina Faso. “We are pleased to take part in IDR’s golden jubilee and to share proven technologies that we make available to farmers.”
The Soil Values booth certainly raised awareness, drawing strong interest as the program highlighted its work to strengthen climate-resilient farming, build the capacity of agricultural actors, and promote technologies designed around farmers’ needs.
Among the standout solutions the program showcased was the Zaïner, developed by Practica, a Soil Values partner specializing in affordable agricultural technologies. The Zaïner, a mechanized implement used to create basins, helps enhance degraded land and ease manual labor required for farmers.
Another high-interest innovation featured at the Soil Values booth was Barbary Plante. This drought-friendly hydro-retentive fertilizer, enriched with nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and trace elements, was presented by Agro Energie France Investissements Immobiliers Solidaires (AFIIAS), a program partner specializing in water-retaining fertilizers.
These technologies quickly attracted visitors seeking practical solutions to soil degradation and climate pressures. Government officials, agriculture professionals, and many others stopped by to learn more about how these solutions can support healthier soils and more resilient production systems.
“We welcomed many visitors who wanted to learn more about the Zaïner, especially its cost, how it works, and how farmers can access it,” noted Sandrine Moyenga, an engineer at Practica.
Christian Somda, technical agent for AFIIAS, representing the company at the event, shared a similar observation: “Visitors showed strong interest in how to apply it and the benefits it provides. We also received positive feedback from partners who have already tested the technology.”
Through its participation in this milestone event for the rural and agricultural development sector, the Soil Values program stood alongside IDR and other event participants and partners to reaffirm its commitment to long-term support for rural stakeholders in Burkina Faso by expanding access to practical, innovative solutions for more resilient and productive agriculture.
Funded by the Dutch Directorate-General for International Cooperation (DGIS), the Soil Values program is being implemented over 10 years (2024-2033), led by the International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC), in consortium with SNV and Wageningen University and Research (WUR), as well as knowledge partners such as AGRA, the Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF), the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), ISRIC – World Soil Information, and the International Water Management Institute (IWMI).
