During a visit to the Goulmou region on 3 March 2026, the Minister of Agriculture, Water, Animal and Fisheries Resources, Commander Ismaël SOMBIÉ, launched floating cage fish farming in the Zanré dam in Diabo. This field trip also provided an opportunity to review several drinking water supply projects in Fada N’Gourma.
A total of 200,000 fry were introduced into 20 floating cages installed on the lake. In order to support local stakeholders and ensure the success of this start-up phase, the ministry provided them with 10 tonnes of fish feed.
Expected production is estimated at nearly 100 tonnes of fish, with harvesting planned within four to six months. This support is part of the government’s commitment to supporting rural initiatives that create wealth and jobs.
For Moustapha TASSEMBEDO, Director General of Fisheries Resources, this initiative is part of the agro-pastoral and fisheries offensive launched by the authorities. He said that the Zanré dam had been chosen to promote fish production in floating cages.
Seven boreholes to tackle water shortage
During his stay in the region, the Minister of State also travelled to Fada N’Gourma, where he visited the National Water and Sanitation Office (ONEA) station, a facility dedicated to the treatment and distribution of drinking water to the population. This facility helps to strengthen the drinking water supply in the city and its surroundings.
Visit by the Minister of State to the National Water and Sanitation Office (ONEA) station
The head of the department in charge of water then visited a drinking water drilling site currently being developed by the National Land Development and Rural Equipment Company (SONATER). As part of ONEA’s emergency plan, seven boreholes will be drilled in the city of Fada N’Gourma to address water supply difficulties, particularly during periods of high heat. On this occasion, the Minister of State emphasised the need to speed up the work.
‘We need to speed things up and move much faster. When there is an emergency, a sense of patriotism must also come into play. Those who commit themselves must be able to deal with the emergency beyond the issues of contractual deadlines.’
This double visit to the Goulmou region illustrates the authorities’ desire to align government actions with the concerns of the population. For the Minister of State, fish farming in floating cages is an opportunity to create jobs and strengthen food security, while the new boreholes will improve access to drinking water for the inhabitants of Fada N’Gourma in the long term.
Patricia Fourouwié Aissa COULIBALY
