Cotton production: In search of good agricultural credit management practices

Controlling agricultural credit is an important factor for increasing cotton production and the well-being of producers. Also, with the continued increase in the price of agricultural inputs observed in recent years and the difficulties in obtaining state subsidies due to the problems our country is experiencing, it has become essential to reconnect with good internal management practices. GPC so as not to compromise their viability and therefore cotton production in Burkina Faso. This is what justified the holding of the workshop on maintaining the management notebook from September 7 to 8, 2023..

It brought together all the stakeholders in the financing and management of agricultural credit (SOFITEX, UNPCB, financing structures and any other structure involved in the granting and management of credit). During this consultation meeting, the participants, on the one hand, took stock of the use of the management tools put in place (2006-2007 to 2022-2023) and on the other hand, made the necessary adjustments materialized by a guide to keeping management notebooks for control of credit and debt on the ground. Speaking on behalf of the President of the Board of Directors of the National Union of Cotton Producers of Burkina (UNPCB), Mr. BAMBA Tahirou welcomed the holding of this meeting which he considered very “important” because it brings together all the actors. “How to set up credit; to whom we grant it and who reimburses it,” he asked, then concluded: “when we do not control these three elements, we undermine cotton production.”

After recalling the different stages of setting up management notebooks as credit management tools (from Village Groups to current Cooperative Societies of cotton producers), Mr. NAKANNABO Marc, Director of Information Systems acting as Director Deputy General, hoped that from this meeting “conclusions would emerge which will allow good control of agricultural credit”, a very determining element in cotton production. The opening remarks of the workshop were given by Mr. Boubacar Sidiki Babilé SEYE, General Director of SOFITEX.

“The management notebook dates back several years, but its implementation has not always been conclusive. My hope is that this workshop can bring significant changes to make it a real working tool,” said the Director General. Because, he added “we must necessarily find a solution to debt which constitutes a scourge and a powerful factor in the demobilization of producers”. This is why, the Director General urged the participants “to ensure that this workshop produces very good resolutions and recommendations in order to move towards excellence in the keeping of management notebooks”. To do this, he invited all stakeholders involved in agricultural credit to actively participate in the work. After congratulating all those who worked for the effective holding of this workshop (notably the Agricultural Credit Department headed by Mr. DIE Zéphirin), he warned that an assessment will be made next year of the implementation on the ground of the conclusions of this workshop in order to “ensure that everything that was decided was followed by effects and to correct any difficulties that may have been encountered”.

DCRPP/SOFITEX

Participants thank, recommend and commit

At the end of the workshop on keeping the management notebook, the participants expressed a vote of thanks to the Director General of SOFITEX, made recommendations and made a commitment.

Motion of thanks

The participants in the workshop on the holding of the Management Notebook warmly thanked the Director General of SOFITEX, for his leadership and his foresight in allowing this workshop to be held.» and the provision of various amenities for the success of the work.

Recommendations

As for the recommendations, the participants requested that advisory support agents be provided with adequate computer equipment. He then recommended the organization of a workshop on the individual management of producers’ information flows. Finally, they recommended holding a review workshop after one year of implementing these recommendations.

Engagement

The advisory support agents participating in the workshop on maintaining the Management Notebook have made a commitment to collect quality data on the scheduled deadlines in accordance with the guide to maintaining the Management Notebook.

Done in Bobo-Dioulasso on September 8, 2023

The participants