Burkina Faso

On 23 September 2025, the Minister of State, Minister of Agriculture, Animal and Fisheries Resources, Commander Ismaël SOMBIE, symbolically handed over the keys to a storage warehouse to the National Food Security Stock Management Company (SONAGESS) at the institution's regional headquarters in Tenkodogo. With a capacity of 1,000 tonnes, this warehouse is one of nine similar facilities built as part of the implementation of the West Africa Food System Resilience Programme (PRSA).

According to the FSRP Coordinator, Mr Salif TENTIKA, this initiative is also in line with the objectives of the 2023-2025 Agropastoral and Fisheries Offensive. The latter aims not only to support producers in increasing agricultural yields, but also to address the challenges of post-harvest management, particularly the storage and preservation of foodstuffs. An appropriate storage system makes it possible to prevent economic losses due to the dumping of products, while promoting better value for production. It is with this in mind that SONAGESS, whose initial mandate of managing food security stocks has been expanded to support producers by increasing purchases from farmers' organisations, is benefiting from this support.

The Director General of SONAGESS, Mr Stéphane Gildas TIENDREBEOGO, welcomed the relevance of this initiative, which will strengthen the institution's storage capacity on the eve of the field collection campaign. He expressed his gratitude to the Minister of State and the highest national authorities for authorising this strategic action.

It should be noted that a collection target of 530,000 tonnes has been set for the 2025-2026 wet season. These volumes will mainly concern paddy rice, millet, maize, cowpeas and sorghum in areas known for these crops. In this regard, SONAGESS is calling for a stronger commitment to support this operation, which is essential for consolidating national food sovereignty, through the provision of appropriate storage infrastructure and logistical resources.

The Steering Committee of the West Africa Food System Resilience Programme – Burkina Faso Component (PRSA-BF) held its first statutory session of the year on Monday 28 July 2025 in Ouagadougou. Chaired by Mr Moussa ZIDA, Director General of Agro-Pastoral Development and Irrigation, the meeting validated several strategic documents essential to the smooth running of the programme.

The Committee members reviewed the status of implementation of the recommendations of the previous session, reviewed the supervision missions carried out by the technical and financial partners, and adopted the 2024 annual report. A progress report on the physical and financial execution of the 2025 Annual Work Plan and Budget (AWPB) at mid-term (as of 30 June) was also presented. At that date, the physical and financial execution rates stood at 40% and 43.76% respectively.

Among the main achievements are: (i) the launch of rehabilitation work on 1,260 hectares in the Bama irrigated plain; (ii) the development of 70 hectares of market gardening areas; (iii) the completion of work on 395 hectares of low-lying land, with an additional 399 hectares nearing completion; (iv) the completion of 151 high-yield boreholes; (v) the implementation of 304 microprojects worth over 3.5 billion CFA francs.

Considering the new operational priorities, the Committee approved the revised PTBA, with a budget now set at 15,661,865,334 CFA francs. The focus for the second half of the year will be on finalising production and post-harvest infrastructure, which is essential for strengthening the resilience of rural producers.

Commending the results achieved, Mr Moussa ZIDA congratulated all those involved in the Programme for their commitment. He emphasised that these efforts had enabled an overall disbursement rate of 65.73% and a coverage rate of 81% to be achieved in relation to the targets set. "The consistent implementation of this PTBA will enable the Programme to provide infrastructure for the benefit of producers and support them in developing their assets," he said at the close of the meeting.

Work to rehabilitate and modernise the Bama irrigation scheme was officially launched on Friday 11 April 2025. The work is part of the Burkina Faso component of the West Africa Food System Resilience Programme (FSRP-BF), and is aimed at boosting agricultural production in this strategic area in the long term. 
The aim is to completely rehabilitate 1,260 hectares of rice fields and 70 hectares of market garden areas by levelling the land to ensure better gravity-fed water distribution throughout the area. This rehabilitation represents an overall investment estimated at more than 15 billion CFA francs, mobilised with the direct involvement of the Minister of State, who gave instructions in October 2023 to make this project a priority. 
According to the stakeholders and beneficiaries, the groundbreaking ceremony marks the culmination of a long process of discussion and consultation with local producers.
Sanou Soumana, President of the Bama rice cooperatives Union (UCRB), expressed the enthusiasm of the producers: "This is a project we've been waiting for years. We will finally be able to produce three times a year on all 1,260 hectares, which will considerably increase the production of rice and wheat to feed the people of Burkina Faso". 
Once the work is complete, the entire area will be usable all year round. The introduction of modern cultivation methods, more suitable varieties and appropriate fertilisers is also planned, to improve productivity and harvest quality in the long term. 
This initiative is also part of a wider plan to develop 10,000 hectares of irrigated areas with full water control and 30,000 hectares of lowlands by the end of 2025.
 

For the FSRP-BF, this launch represents a decisive step towards national food security and local economic development in the region. The 1,085 producers in Bama are now preparing to significantly increase rice production in Burkina Faso.

The onion sector is booming in Burkina Faso, especially in the target regions of the Burkina Faso Food System Resilience Programme (FSRP-BF). Overall, however, poor farming practices predominate, notably the use of unsuitable varieties and the excessive use of chemical inputs, which greatly degrade the quality of the bulbs and cause a lot of rotting during storage.

The FSRP-BF has taken action by supporting the players in the bulb onion innovation platform through a three-year action plan that has helped to disseminate climate-smart cultivation practices and raise awareness of the need to use quality seeds.

Several demonstration plots were visited by both the authorities and growers in various localities. To share the promising results of these experiments, guided tours were organised to raise awareness and convince growers of the advantages of these innovative cultivation practices.

The village of Zigla (in the commune of Manga) welcomed authorities and producers on 27 March 2025 for a regional guided tour of an onion-growing demonstration plot. Under the aegis of Mrs Massadalo Yvette Nacoulma/Sanou, Governor of the Centre-Sud region, the guided tour was an opportunity to discover the good farming practices promoted through the demonstration plot, in particular organo-mineral fertilisation, the use of improved seed and biological pesticides. The results were clear: the demonstration plot produced the highest yields, with better quality bulb onions than the farmers' plot.

Before the village of Zigla, the commune of Tchériba in Mouhoun province hosted a provincial tour on Friday 21 March 2025. Chaired by the High Commissioner of Mouhoun province, this event brought together several players from the innovation platform. At the meeting, growers were able to see for themselves the positive effects of organo-mineral fertilisation on onion yield and quality. Convinced of the benefits observed, they undertook to promote the adoption of this technology to improve not only onion productivity, but also onion conservation.

On the eve of this visit, another meeting took place on Thursday 20 March in Nioniongo, in the province of Passoré. Organised by the Northern Regional Management Unit of the West Africa Food System Resilience Programme (FSRP) as part of the activities of the Northern Onion Innovation Platform, the aim of this regional guided tour was to disseminate the results obtained from the implementation of the demonstration plot on organo-mineral onion fertilisation. The event was chaired by the President of the Special Delegation of Gompossom, representing the Governor of the Nord region. On this occasion, the stakeholders and partners present were able to discuss good agricultural practices and the prospects for extending this technique to a larger number of producers.

These guided tours illustrate the stakeholders' commitment to promoting sustainable farming practices that are adapted to local realities. Thanks to these initiatives, organo-mineral fertilisation is positioned as an effective solution for increasing yields and strengthening producers' resilience in the face of the challenges associated with growing onions in the dry season.

The low level of fertility of most soils in Burkina Faso is mainly characterised by a low level of organic matter and a lack of nutrients. This is a constraint on increasing soil productivity.

To remedy this situation, synthetic chemical fertilisers are commonly used, with their limitations: pollution and loss of biodiversity, degradation of farming systems, high costs for producers, high demand for organic manure, production constraints.

With a view to strengthening the resilience of ecological and food systems, the PRSA-BF is supporting sixteen (16) micro-project promoters in setting up organic manure production units.

Mr SIMBORO Rachide, a promoter in the Centre-East region, runs an organic manure production unit enriched with Trichoderma.

Support from the Programme has enabled him to make the following investments: (i) the construction of 24 compost production areas, (ii) the construction of 03 organic residue storage areas, (iii) the construction of an organic manure storage warehouse, (iv) the installation of an irrigation system for compost maturation from a borehole, (v) the acquisition of a multifunction crusher, a heavy-duty tricycle, a compactor, a digital scale, a bag sewing machine, handling materials and equipment and personal protective equipment.

Mr SIMBORO's production unit employs 15 women and 04 men. In two (02) months of operation, the unit has been able to produce more than 36 tonnes of organic manure, 23 tonnes of which have already been delivered to the tune of 2 million 300 thousand CFA francs, and contracts have been signed with rice producers in Bagré and Kouritenga for the delivery of 60 tonnes of organic manure thanks to the support of the FSRP. 

The recurrence of climatic disturbances, pest attacks (army worms and others) and plant diseases, coupled with a fragile security climate, are factors that expose many people every year to the risk of food insecurity and malnutrition.

The major consequence is the decapitalisation of communities' livelihoods, with the corollary of a deterioration in the nutritional status of the most vulnerable groups. Faced with this situation, the West Africa Food System Resilience Programme, Burkina Faso Component (FSRP-BF), in collaboration with the Executive Secretariat of the National Food Security Council (SE-CNSA), has undertaken to implement the Resilience Basket (RB).

The PdR is a package of interventions designed to strengthen the resilience of vulnerable populations. It improves the food and nutritional security of vulnerable households by strengthening their livelihoods.  The programme has supported 102 vulnerable households, 18 of which are headed by women and 07 by young people. These households come from 09 villages in 03 regions. Each household received: i) 30kg of maize seed; ii) 10kg of cowpea seed; iii) 80g of vegetable seed (tomato and onion); iv) 750kg of fertiliser (200kg NPK, 550kg Urea); v) ploughing of 3 ha; vi) 01 kits of vegetable production equipment (wheelbarrow, watering can, hoe, etc.); vii) local technical supervision. This support enabled each household to plant 01 ha of cowpeas, 02 ha of maize and 0.25 ha of market gardens.

These households will be supported over a period of 03 years, and the aim of the support is to get them out of their vulnerable situation.

At the end of the first year, the beneficiaries recorded an increase in their production, yields and income. This has enabled the households to adequately meet their food and nutritional needs and to diversify their sources of income through related activities (small-scale livestock farming and others) following the sale of their surplus production, all of which contributes to improving their livelihoods and strengthening their resilience.

Mr BOUGMA Piraogo Marcel, is one of the beneficiaries of the PdR in the village of Nassoulou in the commune of Kindi, in the province of Boulkiemdé in the Centre West region. He describes the benefits of the PoR as follows: ‘Before the support, we used to grow small quantities of maize behind our cages so that we could eat fresh maize as soon as it was harvested. We didn't know that our soils were suitable for growing this crop over such large areas. So, for lack of means, we never tried. This experiment has shown us that maize production is profitable, and I intend to continue. My production of cowpeas and market garden produce wasn't as developed, but the advice and grants I've received have improved it a lot’.

Mrs KIEMTORE Jeanne, a beneficiary from the same locality, said she was pleased with the initiative and described it in these terms: ‘I wasn't producing maize because I didn't have enough resources to do so. So we didn't eat any. I only produced a small portion of cowpea. This didn't allow us to cover our food and other needs. The support I received enabled me to grow large quantities of maize and cowpeas that would enable me to meet my household's food requirements for several years. I'm going to work to maintain this momentum.
 

The key success factors are the commitment of the beneficiaries and their community to the success of the initiative, the integration of maize into the eating habits of vulnerable households, the coverage of their food and nutritional needs, the adoption of good agricultural practices by the beneficiaries, and the support of technical services and local authorities.
 

From 20 to 23 January 2025, a supervisory mission led by the Coordinator of the Burkina Faso West Africa Food System Resilience Programme (FSRP-BF), accompanied by the value chain specialist, visited the Boucle du Mouhoun region to assess the programme's progress on the ground.

The mission began with a courtesy visit to the local authorities, underlining the importance of collaboration with institutional players in the implementation of PRSA-BF initiatives. The team then headed out into the field, accompanied by members of the Regional Management Unit (RMU). Several projects were visited, including micro-projects supported in various links of the agricultural value chains and storage warehouses under construction in the Mouhoun and Balés provinces.

The evaluation highlighted encouraging progress, particularly the satisfactory state of construction of storage warehouses. These strategic infrastructures are designed to strengthen the capacity of producers to better preserve their crops and reduce post-harvest losses.

However, shortcomings were noted in certain aspects of the microprojects. In response to these challenges, observations and recommendations were made to improve the effectiveness and impact of the interventions. These proposals will serve as a basis for adjusting the programme's actions and maximising the benefits for the beneficiary communities.

The FSRP-BF Coordinator also gave a glimmer of hope to the producers of the lowlands identified for development work. He reassured them that the sites would soon be handed over to companies to start the work, marking a crucial step towards improving the livelihoods of local people.

This mission illustrates the commitment of the FSRP-BF to closely monitor the implementation of its activities and to work in synergy with stakeholders to strengthen the resilience of food systems in Burkina Faso. Through rigorous monitoring and strategic adjustments, the programme aims to create a lasting impact for rural populations.

The second session of the Steering Committee of the Programme for the Resilience of the West Africa Food System in West Africa, Burkina Faso (FSRP-BF), was held on Monday 30 December 2024, under the chairmanship of Mr Moussa ZIDA, Head of Budget Programme 075 entitled "Hydro-agricultural Development and Irrigation". The session provided an opportunity to review the programme's annual results and adopt the work plan and budget for 2025.

By 30 September 2024, FSRP-BF had achieved promising results, with a physical implementation rate of 74% and a financial implementation rate of 78.38%, coupled with a disbursement rate of 50.90%. In addition, 78% of the target number of direct beneficiaries were reached, reflecting significant progress towards achieving the programme's objectives.

In terms of concrete achievements, support for ploughing has seen more than 6,000 hectares of lowlands and uplands developed for the benefit of 11,399 farmers, 42% of them women and 39% young people. In addition, 37,500 tonnes of fertiliser and 1,338 tonnes of improved seed were distributed to 472,479 farmers, 28.7% of whom were women and 32% young people. In terms of technical studies, 2,680 hectares of lowlands have been developed.

These achievements reflect FSRP-BF's commitment to responding effectively to the challenges of food security and resilience in a context of growing challenges.

For the year 2025, the PRSA-BF plans to invest more than CFAF 15 billion in the implementation of its activities. According to Moussa ZIDA, this amount could be increased to take into account the new strategic orientations of the ministry in charge of agriculture. The main interventions will focus on the development of irrigated perimeters, lowlands and market gardens, and the construction of storage infrastructures adapted to the needs of producers.

Mr ZIDA praised the PRSA-BF management unit for its active contribution to the implementation of the Agropastoral and Fisheries Offensive 2023-2025, while encouraging it to maintain this momentum. He also stressed the need to consider the recommendations of the latest joint Government/World Bank mission to optimise the results of the programme.

With ambitious investments and a strengthened strategy, the PRSA-BF is positioning itself as a key player in the structural transformation of Burkina Faso's agricultural sector and the sustainable improvement of living conditions for the population.

From 18 to 19 November 2024, a strategic training course was held in Boromo, in the Boucle du Mouhoun region of Burkina Faso, for members of the onion innovation platform. The aim of this initiative was to build producers’ capacity to deal more effectively with the pests and diseases that affect onion crops.

Some 29 participants from various provinces in the Boucle du Mouhoun region came together to benefit from the advice and techniques provided by experts from the Regional Department of Agriculture, Animal Resources and Fisheries (DRARAH). These sessions will enable farmers to master effective pest control methods, a crucial factor in increasing their productivity and, ultimately, maximising their income.

The training course was officially opened by the Provincial Director of Agriculture, Animal Resources and Fisheries for the Bale region, representing the Regional Director. She praised the commitment of the participants and stressed the importance of these platforms for the development of local agricultural sectors.

Agricultural innovation platforms, such as the one in the Boucle du Mouhoun region, are ideal places for sharing knowledge, testing solutions adapted to local realities and networking the various players involved. By promoting the adoption of good agricultural practices and access to appropriate technologies, these platforms not only help to improve the management of plant health challenges, but also help to improve food security and the livelihoods of rural communities.

The training was part of the activities of the West African Food System Resilience Programme (FSRP), a programme funded by the World Bank. FSRP places particular emphasis on supporting local initiatives such as innovation platforms, which play a key role in empowering producers in the face of climatic and economic hazards.  With this training session, the region’s growers are leaving better equipped to meet the challenges posed by pests and diseases. This proactive approach illustrates the importance of innovation platforms in the sustainable transformation of African agriculture.

These collaborative structures, supported by public and private players, provide frameworks for testing and disseminating agricultural innovations. They are now recognised as a key tool for accelerating the modernisation of food systems in West Africa.

In the Boucle du Mouhoun region, the future of the onion looks promising, thanks to initiatives such as this one, which illustrate the importance of innovation and capacity-building in building a resilient and prosperous agricultural sector.

Following the capacity-building workshop organised in Bamako by CORAF and the Bioversity International and CIAT Alliance, as part of the Accelerating the Impacts of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa (AICCRA) project, the stakeholders of the Food System Resilience Programme (PRSA/FSRP) strengthened their knowledge of the implementation of Climate Intelligent Villages (CIVs). Following this training, the PRSA Burkina Faso (PRSA-BF) held a national feedback workshop in Manga, from 30 September to 4 October 2024, to draw up an action plan for the implementation of VICs in the country.

The event, which brought together researchers, meteorological experts, NGO representatives and stakeholders from the agro-sylvo-pastoral sector, was marked by the participation of Dr Robert Zougmore, Programme Director of AICCRA, Alliance Bioversity and CIAT. The main objective was to provide the FSRP-BF with a concrete action plan for integrating ICVs into its intervention zones, based on the pilot experience of the climate-smart village of Ouda, in the Centre-Sud region.

The VIC approach, initially introduced by the CCAFS programme, has proved promising for the development of climate-smart technologies and innovations in West Africa. It promotes a participatory approach to the development of solutions adapted to climate change, integrating technological, institutional and socio-economic innovations, as well as climate-smart policies.

The Manga workshop provided an opportunity to consolidate knowledge of ICVs, particularly with regard to the formulation and implementation of this approach. A field trip to Ouda enabled participants to observe the concrete benefits of climate-smart technologies, such as the use of improved seeds, organic manure and biopesticides, as well as agroclimatic services. Discussions with the Ouda community illustrated how these technologies are helping to improve people's resilience in the face of climatic hazards and to increase agricultural yields.

During the three-day workshop, participants worked on developing an action plan for implementing ICV in Burkina Faso. Discussions focused on the selection of pilot villages, land tenure security, institutional anchoring, and the identification of stakeholders and risks. It was agreed to set up four VICs: one in the Kou sub-basin, one in the Sirba, and two in the Lower Mouhoun.

The action plan drawn up includes a detailed timetable and an operational mechanism that will be incorporated into the FSRP-BF's 2025 Annual Work Plan and Budget (AWPB), once it has been validated by the World Bank. This plan marks a decisive step towards the adoption of climate-smart solutions and reinforces the FSRP-BF's commitment to promoting the resilience of rural communities through the dissemination of climate-adapted technologies.

The objectives of the workshop were fully achieved, providing the FSRP-BF with a strategic framework for the implementation of ICVs in its intervention zones. The success of this approach should enable the FSRP-BF's results to be amplified, in particular by contributing to the achievement of indicators linked to the dissemination of climate-smart technologies and the resilience of food systems.

In summary, the Climate Smart Villages initiative in Burkina Faso is part of a broader strategy to position rural communities on a sustainable path towards food and nutrition security, while incorporating the principles integrated landscape management and climate-smart agriculture. The results achieved in Manga augur a promising future for climate resilience in Burkina Faso and beyond.