On the instructions of President Ibrahim Traoré, Burkinabe Minister of State for Agriculture Ismaël Sombié announced a new government initiative to subsidize the construction of boreholes for agro-pastoral producers to support the 2026-2027 dry-season farming campaign.
Released by the Ministry of Agriculture on Wednesday evening, the measure aims to secure reliable water access, expand pastoral production capacity, and ensure high agricultural yields during dry-season cultivation. The policy response comes directly on the heels of the minister’s field monitoring tour in Fada N’Gourma, eastern Burkina Faso, where officials gathered to evaluate crop conditions and provide direct technical support to local farming communities.
While dry conditions and seasonal drought currently threaten an estimated 20,000 hectares of crops across several regions, agricultural authorities maintain that overall campaign prospects remain positive due to a substantial nationwide increase in total cultivated surface area. Speaking during his regional tour, Minister Sombié emphasized that localized rainfall deficits have not undermined the broader progress achieved throughout the agricultural season. By rolling out subsidised boreholes alongside expanded land cultivation, the Burkinabe administration seeks to mitigate climate vulnerabilities, shield vulnerable production areas from dry spells, and reinforce long-term national food security.
HO/te/Sf/lb/abj/APA