Expanded Agribusiness and Trade Promotion (USAID E-ATP)

This region is a major producer of cotton and cereals, and is crucial for the country's food security. The UGCPA/BM was established in 1993 with the support of the Union des Producteurs Agricole du Québec/Développement International (UPA DI) and was officially recognized in 2005. The organization was created in response to the Burkinabé government's withdrawal of support for the agricultural sector, which led to market liberalization and fluctuations in cereal prices. The UGCPA/BM aims to provide better income for its member farmers, ensure food security, and promote quality standards for cereals in Burkina Faso. The organization has four main objectives: to contribute to the improvement of farmers' income, to work towards food security and the defense of its members' interests, to provide consumers with high-quality products, and to promote quality and weight standards for cereals in Burkina Faso. The UGCPA/BM has developed a strategy based on four axes: the collection and commercialization of collective agricultural products, support for production through access to credit and training, the establishment of financial tools for risk management, and the reinforcement of the cooperative spirit among members. The organization has 2,100 members, divided into 85 base groups, and commercializes dry cereals (maize, millet, and sorghum) and organic bissap for export. In 2009-2010, the UGCPA/BM commercialized 4,050 tonnes of cereals, generating a revenue of 700 million FCFA. The organization has partnerships with various international organizations, including the Fondation pour l'Agriculture et la Ruralité Mondiale (FARM), the Institut International pour la Fertilité des Sols (IFDC), and the Organisation Néerlandaise de Développement (SNV), as well as with the USAID's Expanded Agribusiness and Trade Promotion (E-ATP) project. The UGCPA/BM's system of collective marketing is characterized by the contractualization of commercial relationships between the organization and its member farmers. This system presents an interest for producer organizations that practice collective cereal collection and commercialization. The organization's strategy is based on four axes: the collection and commercialization of collective agricultural products, support for production through access to credit and training, the establishment of financial tools for risk management, and the reinforcement of the cooperative spirit among members. The UGCPA/BM has established a system of governance, which includes a regulatory framework and financing for the organization's structures. The organization has also established a circuit of distribution, both at the national and sub-regional levels. The UGCPA/BM's system is based on several key components, including the collection and commercialization of collective agricultural products, support for production through access to credit and training, the establishment of financial tools for risk management, and the reinforcement of the cooperative spirit among members. The organization's system of collective marketing has several benefits, including the provision of better income for member farmers, the promotion of quality standards for cereals, and the improvement of food security. However, the system also faces several challenges, including the need to improve the organization's governance and financing structures, as well as the need to increase the organization's membership and commercialization activities.