Burkina Faso: Cashew apple processing plant, a lever for employment and the local economy according to Captain Ibrahim Traoré’s vision

During his visit to the Hauts-Bassins region, the Head of State, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, laid the foundation stone for a cashew apple processing plant in Péni. This ambitious agro-industrial project aims to strengthen the local value chain of cashew nuts, one of Burkina Faso’s key agricultural products.
According to reports, nearly 2 million cashew apples are discarded into the wild each year in Burkina Faso. With this project, the country aims to process 5,000 tons of cashew apples annually into various products such as juice, wine, ethanol concentrates, and vinegar.
This initiative is part of a broader effort toward sustainable development and economic empowerment, particularly for rural women, who represent a significant portion of the workforce in this sector. It also serves as a model for public-private cooperation, focusing on the enhancement of local resources and the creation of sustainable jobs.
With the establishment of this factory, 112 permanent jobs and 10,050 non-permanent jobs will be created, helping to reduce youth unemployment. This project, with an estimated cost of 6.65 billion CFA francs, aims not only to add value to natural resources but also to involve all Burkinabè in wealth creation for the country.
Scheduled for completion in December 2025, this project reinforces the vision of President Ibrahim Traoré, who has made the transformation, promotion, and enhancement of local products a top priority.
The launch of this plant marks an important milestone in the structural transformation of Burkina Faso’s agriculture, with positive impacts expected for local communities and the national economy.