THE west African country of Burkina Faso hopes to launch a “green revolution” through a new company that will try to augment agricultural production and improve food security. Burkina Agriculture Minister Salif Diallo said the new entity Soprofa, a joint venture between the government and Swiss group Aiglon, “would greatly contribute in eradicating rural poverty by redistributing substantial revenues”. Diallo said it would allow farmers to acquire new state-of-art tools and transform them into “professionals”. The 2000-2001 harvest had been hit by lack of rain and Burkina Faso is currently trying to tap ground water sources. Cereal production was 1,86-million tonnes in 2000-2001, a fall of 31% over the previous year and a deficit of 442 000 tonnes of total national demand. The new company has a paid-up capital of $661 000. Aiglon holds 75% stake and the rest is owned by the government. -AFP