Burkina Faso/ Towards food self-sufficiency: Captain Ibrahim Traoré and the new agricultural dynamics of his country
With Captain Ibrahim Traoré at the head of Burkina Faso, the country is undergoing a remarkable transformation in the field of agriculture. President Ibrahim’s vision for food self-sufficiency is taking shape through ambitious initiatives and concrete actions on the ground.
Agropastoral and fisheries offensive 2023-2025
The flagship initiative of this transformation is the Agropastoral and Fisheries Offensive 2023-2025, a program that aims to revolutionize agricultural practices and ensure the country’s food security. This programme is structured around several strategic axes:
Development and distribution of agricultural land:
The government has undertaken an extensive agricultural land development program. These lands, once developed, are distributed to farmers to maximize their use and increase agricultural production.
This initiative provides farmers with farm-ready land, reducing upfront costs and facilitating access to agriculture for many Burkinabe.
Acquisition of hundreds of tractors:
To modernize agriculture, the government invested in the acquisition of hundreds of tractors. These agricultural machines are made available to farmers on favourable conditions, allowing them to increase their productivity.
The use of these tractors improves the efficiency of agricultural work, reduces the arduousness of work and accelerates production cycles.
Distribution of agricultural inputs:
Another central aspect of this offensive is the distribution of agricultural inputs. The government ensures the availability of quality seeds, fertilizers and phytosanitary products in sufficient quantities.
The results of the Agropastoral and Fisheries Offensive were not long in coming. In just a few months, the changes are palpable:
Farmers, now better equipped and better supplied, are seeing a clear increase in their yields. Harvests are more abundant, which contributes directly to the country’s food security.
Thanks to the increase in local production, Burkina Faso is gradually reducing its dependence on food imports. This strengthens the country’s food resilience to external shocks.