USD 24M boost for Burkina Faso’s agriculture sector in 2025

BURKINA FASO – Burkina Faso’s agricultural sector is set to receive a significant financial boost in 2025, with over 15 billion CFA francs (USD 23.6 million) allocated to enhance productivity and resilience.

This funding is part of the West Africa Food System Resilience Program (PRSA-BF), as confirmed by a statement released on January 5 by the Ministry of Agriculture.

Moussa Zida, president of the PRSA-BF steering committee, outlined the primary focus of the budget: “This funding will be dedicated to the development of irrigated perimeters, lowlands, market gardens, and the construction of storage infrastructure.”

The initiatives aim to strengthen irrigation systems and ensure sustainable agricultural practices across the country.

Official data reveals that Burkina Faso has approximately 500,000 hectares of lowlands and over 233,500 hectares of irrigable land.

However, current usage falls significantly short, with only 10% of lowlands and less than 5% of irrigable areas being developed.

Enhancing irrigation is seen as a critical step to improve rice production and reduce the reliance on rain-fed agriculture, which is highly vulnerable to climate fluctuations.

The PRSA-BF’s objectives align with the Agropastoral and Fisheries Offensive 2023-2025, a key program of the Burkinabe government focused on agricultural development.

To support this vision, the government has approved a 5% budget increase for rural development in 2025.

Launched in 2022 by ECOWAS with financial backing from global partners such as the World Bank, the West Africa Food System Resilience Program aims to enhance food security and mitigate the effects of climate change in the region.

These initiatives underscore a collaborative effort to bolster agricultural resilience and support farmers in Burkina Faso.

Beyond irrigation projects, the agricultural sector has seen notable advancements in recent years. The construction of an USD 8.1 million tomato processing plant in Bobo-Dioulasso is underway, aimed at increasing domestic production of tomato paste and boosting exports. This facility is expected to generate 100 direct jobs and over 5,000 indirect jobs.

Innovations in sustainable farming have also emerged, such as the BioProtect initiative. This enterprise markets organic fruits and vegetables under the “ECOBIO Panier” brand, offering environmentally friendly solutions for enhanced production and harvest security.

These efforts are contributing to the growth of Burkina Faso’s fresh produce market, which is projected to generate USD 478.40 million in revenue by 2024, with a yearly growth rate of 5.53% through 2029.

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