Bagre:Burkina Faso Prime Minister Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Ouedraogo embarked on a tour of the Centre-East region to promote food sovereignty initiatives. The tour included overseeing a national animal vaccination campaign, launching a mechanized maize harvest in Bagre, inaugurating a new rice mill, and initiating a project to develop 50,000 hectares of irrigated land.
According to Burkina Information Agency, this tour is part of the government's strategy to accelerate agricultural and livestock sector transformation, following directives from President Captain Ibrahim Traore. The Prime Minister emphasized the importance of public involvement in achieving food self-sufficiency.
The tour began with supervision of the national livestock vaccination and deworming campaign, marking the second phase of an agropastoral, hydraulic, and fisheries offensive. The government aims to produce 100,000 tons of fish, process 75 million liters of milk, and export 35,000 tons of meat annually. Key measures include mass vaccination, artificial insemination, and livestock identification digitalization to enhance productivity and traceability.
In Bagre, the Prime Minister launched the mechanized maize harvest, facilitated by the Faso Agropoles Company. The introduction of a combine harvester is intended to expedite the process, lessen labor intensity, and reduce post-harvest losses. Modernizing equipment is seen as essential for boosting yields, and stakeholders are encouraged to develop tailored solutions for local producers.
The inauguration of a modern rice mill, capable of processing 100 tons of paddy per day, was another significant event on the tour. This facility, funded nationally and managed by Faso Agropoles, will handle the complete processing chain. The Prime Minister highlighted this investment as crucial for boosting national production and urged Burkinabe to support local producers by consuming domestic products.
The tour's main highlight was launching an operation to develop 50,000 hectares of irrigated land to combat challenges from the 2026 rainy season's low rainfall and drought. The project involves earthworks and leveling of 60,000 hectares between November 2026 and April 2027, with the goal of completing 50,000 hectares by October 31, 2027. This development will expand the national irrigated area from under 30,000 to 80,000 hectares.
The project's estimated cost is 254.791 billion FCFA, with nearly 13 billion allocated for earthworks. Resources from Faso Mêbo, SONATER, ONBAH, and the Military Engineering Corps will be utilized to meet the tight schedule. The Prime Minister called for rigorous oversight and community support to ensure success.
Through these efforts, the government aims to establish water management, mechanization, local processing, and enhanced animal production as the foundations of food sovereignty in Burkina Faso.