Local blacksmith at work. - - Development of the Sourou Valley. The Government of Burkina Faso has declared the development of the Sourou Valley of first priority. In 1984, construction was begun on a dam on the Black Volta River and on an irrigation canal leading from it to the Sourou Valley. Volunteer workers receive free transportation to the work sites by the army. The project is expected to provide irrigation for 30 000 hectares. Rice, wheat, sorghum, corn and truck gardens will be the food crops and wheat, sugar cane and soy cash crops. The cost of the dam and irrigation canal will be borne by the Burkina Faso Government but the development of the resulting 30 000 hectares must be underwritten by external sources, such as FAO.