Ouagadougou: The implementation of the Agropastoral and Fisheries Offensive (OAPH) 2023-2025 has significantly boosted Burkina Faso's agricultural, animal, and fisheries production. This initiative has achieved an average 20% increase in cereal production and elevated the rate of coverage of cereal needs to 124% by 2025, as presented by the Technical Secretary of the OAPH, Amos Ki©nou, during a press conference.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the OAPH, launched to enhance Burkina Faso's food sovereignty, focused on eight strategic sectors: rice, maize, potato, wheat, mango, fish, poultry, and livestock-meat. The initiative aimed to reduce import dependency and transform the rural sector into a hub for job and income creation.
The report highlights that overall cereal production climbed from 4.66 million tonnes in 2022-2023 to over 7.14 million tonnes in 2025-2026. Notably, paddy rice surpassed the one million tonne mark for the first time in 2025, achieving 1,008,737 tonnes, which is 101% of the target. Maize production increased to 2.69 million tonnes in 2025, up from an average of 1.83 million tonnes during 2020-2022. Potato production rose from an average of 30,038 tonnes over 2020-2022 to 51,818 tonnes in 2025.
In the fisheries sector, fish production reached 58,476 tonnes in 2025, compared to an average of 30,574 tonnes over 2020-2022. The development of fish farming in floating cages, with 1,545 cages installed, was a key factor in accelerating production. Investments were also directed towards infrastructure and equipment, resulting in the development or rehabilitation of 11,774 hectares of irrigated areas and 41,275 hectares of lowlands. Additionally, 120,158 hectares were plowed at no cost or subsidized rates for producers.
For livestock farming, over 30,000 breeding nuclei of small ruminants have been provided to stakeholders. Efforts to revive national wheat production covered 2,526 hectares, surpassing the target of 1,500 hectares by 168.4%. These initiatives have created 91,027 jobs, including 26,202 permanent positions, with 35.2% of these jobs benefiting women. Rural household incomes increased by 7.5%, while agricultural GDP rose by 12.13%.
The report indicates that 273.99 billion FCFA of public funding has been mobilized for the OAPH 2023-2025, from a projected 592 billion FCFA. Amos Ki©nou, the OAPH Technical Secretary, described the offensive's implementation as "a resounding success" and announced plans for a second phase to consolidate gains and address emerging challenges in the agropastoral and fisheries sector.