Colonel Bilaly Elhadj Gambobo began a field mission in the Tillabéri region on 15 October 2026. This mission aims to evaluate the 2026 agro-sylvopastoral campaign and inspect services under the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock. The primary objective of this ministerial visit is to conduct a full assessment of the ongoing agricultural efforts in the region, ensuring that the strategic goals set for the current season are being met by the relevant administrative bodies.
Assessing Regional Production Challenges
Colonel Bilaly Elhadj Gambobo visited agricultural plots in the village of Mara, located within the commune of Kourteye, on 15 October 2026. These fields experienced significant production deficits throughout the current season, a condition attributed to insufficient rainfall in the area. The minister personally inspected the state of the crops in Mara to better understand the impact of the lack of precipitation on the local harvest. By visiting these specific plots, he aimed to gather direct evidence of the challenges faced by local farmers during this difficult agricultural cycle.
The public irrigated perimeter of Toula represents another site under evaluation during the mission. This facility covers a surface area of approximately 350 hectares. The minister assessed the efficiency of the irrigation infrastructure at this site, noting the importance of such perimeters in maintaining consistent production levels despite the variable climate conditions that have affected other parts of the region.
Inspecting Regional Administrative Services
Colonel Bilaly Elhadj Gambobo continued his mission on 15 October 2026 by visiting several administrative offices to assess the operational capacity of regional services. The minister held meetings at the Direction régionale de l’élevage and the Direction départementale de l’élevage to review livestock management protocols. These discussions focused on the implementation of health and development standards for livestock within the Tillabéri region.
During the same visit, he inspected the local headquarters of the Office national des aménagements hydro-agricoles (ONAHA) and the Agence pour la promotion du conseil agricole (APCA) to evaluate their ongoing support for local producers. The minister examined the technical assistance provided by these agencies to ensure that farmers have the necessary guidance to improve their yields.
The minister later conducted site visits at the Direction régionale de l’Agriculture and the Direction régionale du Génie rural. These inspections focused on the current administrative oversight of agricultural land development and infrastructure projects within the Tillabéri region. Colonel Bilaly Elhadj Gambobo engaged with staff at these offices to review the progress of ongoing engineering works intended to support the agricultural sector.
Colonel Bilaly Elhadj Gambobo concluded his tour of these facilities with a visit to the Centre d’approvisionnement en intrants et matériels agricoles (CAIMA). The visit to this center allowed the minister to observe the distribution status and availability of agricultural inputs and equipment provided to farmers for the 2026 campaign. By verifying the inventory levels at CAIMA, the minister sought to confirm that the necessary resources are effectively reaching the producers who require them to sustain their agricultural activities throughout the remainder of the 2026 season.