The Republican Guard harvests its first catfish after seven months of breeding

The Republican Guard (GR) carried out its first harvest of African catfish, commonly known as wels catfish, this Thursday, October 8, 2026, at Camp Naaba-Koom II in Ouagadougou. This experiment was conducted as part of the armed forces' contribution to food production and sovereignty.

For this first production, two 80 m³ ponds were set up and stocked with 5,000 fry, 2,000 in the first pond and 3,000 in the second. After approximately seven months of monitoring, feeding, and maintenance, some fish reached an average weight of about 3,5 kg.

Beyond production primarily intended for domestic consumption, the project also includes a social component. In particular, it aims to enable wounded soldiers and disabled military personnel to continue productive activities through adapted programs.
The Republican Guard also has a smokehouse capable of processing up to 200 kg of fish per day, in order to facilitate the preservation of the production.

This experiment could be extended to other fire stations. According to project leaders, poultry, pig, and small ruminant farming initiatives are already underway in 13 fire stations across the country, while fish farming is expected to gradually benefit from training and appropriate equipment.

Djamila Kambou