The government of Burkina Faso has authorized the ratification of several loan and grant agreements totaling more than 164 billion CFA francs to overhaul the nation’s agricultural sector.
Approved during a Council of Ministers meeting on Thursday, May 7, 2026, the funding is split between two major initiatives designed to boost productivity, enhance climate resilience, and secure national food sovereignty.
The first major component is the Agricultural Transformation Support Operation (OATA-BF), backed by an 83.76 billion CFA franc agreement with the International Development Association. This five-year project focuses on infrastructure and socio-economic reintegration, including the development of 3,900 hectares of irrigated land and two massive 400,000-tonne storage centers in Ouagadougou and Bobo-Dioulasso. Notably, the program includes financing for 800 sub-projects specifically targeting displaced populations and former Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland (VDP) to facilitate their transition into the agricultural economy.
The second initiative, the Emergency Operation for Strengthening Agricultural Production (OURPA-BF), involves 60.04 billion CFA francs from the African Development Bank and the African Development Fund. This operation serves as a direct intervention to stabilize the supply chain, funding the acquisition of 68,700 tonnes of fertilizer and 10,000 tonnes of improved seeds for staple crops like rice, maize, and wheat. By building additional warehouses and acquiring a fleet of 30 transport trucks, the government anticipates an additional yield of 1.3 million tonnes of maize and over 700,000 tonnes of rice, marking a decisive step toward long-term food security.
HO/te/Sf/lb/abj/APA