EXPERTS AT BOULBI AND SCENES IN THE PADDY FIELDS




Initials RM/VS/MR/K



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: A SECOND EXPERIMENTAL PROJECT IN RICE-GROWING UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF EXPERTS FROM TAIWAN IS BEING PLANNED IN UPPER VOLTA AS A RESULT OF THE SUCCESS OF THE FIRST PROJECT STARTED LAST SPRING AT BOULBI ABOUT EIGHT MILES (14 KLMS) FROM OUAGADOUGOU. THE PROJECTS ARE BEING CARRIED OUT ACCORDING TO AN AGREEMENT UNDER WHICH TAIWAN WILL ASSIST UPPER VOLTA IN DEVELOPMENT OF THE BOULBI PLAIN.

THE PRESIDENT MAURICE YAMEOGO OF UPPER VOLTA HAS SAID THAT IF THE TECHNIQUES DEMONSTRATED AT BOULBI WERE APPLIED ON A NATIONAL SCALE, HE WAS CONFIDENT THAT HIS COUNTRY WOULD GAIN AN OUTSTANDING VICTORY OVER HUNGER. THE FIRST PROJECT WAS CARRIED OUT BY 250 UPPER VOLTA FARMING FAMILIES, DIRECTED BY THE AGRICULTURAL EXPERTS FROM TAIWAN.

THE HARVESTING OF SOME 8,000 TONS OF RICE IN THE FIRST PROJECT IS ALMOST COMPLETE, AND THE PLANTING OF ABOUT 3,750 ACRES (1,500 HECTARES) IS NOW BEING CONSIDERED IN THE SECOND PROJECT, TO BEGIN NEXT YEAR. THE SECOND PROJECT WILL BE CONTINUED FOR ABOUT FIVE YEARS.