🇧🇫Burkina FasoWest Africa
Moussa Dakouré, a young Burkinabe farmer, cultivates pineapples and cacao despite climate challenges
via Lefaso.net7 min read
Moussa Dakouré, a young farmer and livestock breeder from Koala village, Saaba commune, Burkina Faso, represents a new generation of agricultural entrepreneurs. Born into a farming family in Ouagadougou, he developed an early passion for agriculture, leaving primary school to pursue it. Dakouré is engaged in market gardening and food crops, but also embraces innovation. About four years ago, he ventured into pineapple cultivation, a challenging crop for his region's climate. His interest was sparked by a Facebook video, leading him to learn online and gain practical experience at a friend's pineapple plantation in Komki-Ipala. Despite initial difficulties with irrigation, he has improved water management and expects production to begin around May-June. Dakouré also harbors the ambitious goal of introducing cacao cultivation to his village, a surprising endeavor for a Sahelian zone. He previously attempted this with 8,000 cacao plants, which were lost due to a lack of maintenance by his collaborators while he was in Ghana. Undeterred, he plans to restart cacao cultivation and is seeking partners for seeds from coastal countries. Recognizing the climatic constraints, he remains optimistic, believing that "nothing is impossible with willpower." Dakouré is appealing for support, including seeds, technical advice, accompaniment, or financial assistance, to realize his projects. His initiatives are seen as vital for diversifying and innovating agriculture in the local economy.
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