Burkina Faso plans to double its wheat output by the 2025–2026 season. The Ministry of Agriculture reported that the 2024–2025 campaign yielded over 2,500 tonnes of wheat, and the target for 2025–2026 is about 6,000 tonnes.
Government measures to reach the goal
- Policy support and planning: During a seminar on wheat production planning for 2025–2026, Secretary-General Gaoussou Sanou stressed the importance of implementing the national agricultural development program and urged producers to intensify efforts.
- Inputs and equipment: To support farmers, the ministry will provide certified seeds, fertilizers, harvesting machinery and irrigation equipment.
- Timeline linkage: The production target aligns with broader infrastructure plans, as authorities have earlier announced large-scale railway modernization starting in 2026, which could improve transport and market access for agricultural products.
Context and implications
- Scale and feasibility: Increasing production from ~2,500 t to ~6,000 t requires improved yields, expanded irrigated area or both, better inputs and logistics. The planned provision of seeds, fertilizers and irrigation equipment addresses key constraints but success will depend on effective distribution, farmer training and financing.
- Economic impact: Higher domestic wheat production can reduce import dependence, strengthen food security and support rural incomes, though Burkina Faso will still remain a net importer for wheat given current volumes.
- Risks: Challenges include climate variability, security issues in parts of the country, supply chain bottlenecks and timely implementation of support measures.
Overall, the ministry's program sets concrete targets and offers material support; achieving the doubling will hinge on rapid adoption of inputs and scaling of irrigated and mechanized production before the 2025–2026 harvest
