Burkina Faso: President Ibrahim Traoré’s agricultural vision for food self-sufficiency
Since taking office as Head of State, Captain Ibrahim Traoré has made agriculture a central pillar of his development policy. In a context marked by security, economic, and climate challenges, the President has chosen to place food sovereignty at the heart of government action. This strong political will is now reflected in concrete projects that are transforming rural areas and strengthening the resilience of the population.
One of the key symbols of this dynamic is the development of the Dourou irrigation perimeter, in the commune of Kirsi (Passoré province), inaugurated on July 3, 2025, by Prime Minister Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Ouédraogo. Covering 865 hectares, the site is equipped with modern infrastructure: a pumping station, irrigation canals, storage warehouses, drying areas, and access roads. Funded 93.7% by the Agricultural Resilience and Competitiveness Project (PReCA), this project, costing over 17.5 billion CFA francs, will allow for two harvests per year, with expected yields of 3,600 tons of rice in the rainy season and more than 17,600 tons of tomatoes and onions in the dry season.
Beyond Dourou, the government has launched a series of agricultural development projects in several regions of the country. Valleys, lowlands, irrigated perimeters, and water points have been developed to allow year-round farming. At the same time, the distribution of improved seeds, fertilizers, and small agricultural equipment has been strengthened, as have training programs for producers, particularly targeting young people and women.
Captain Ibrahim Traoré emphasizes the need for the country to produce what it consumes, in a move to break away from external dependence. Through the agropastoral and fisheries offensive, he aims to mobilize all national energies around the land, hard work, and restored dignity. With a clear vision, targeted investments, and popular mobilization, the current agricultural policy is laying the foundation for a self-sufficient, resilient, and sovereign Burkina Faso.
