Burkina Faso / The government of Burkina Faso on the road to food self-sufficiency: A commendable initiative for the livestock sector
As part of President Ibrahim Traoré’s vision for achieving food self-sufficiency in Burkina Faso, the government is making significant efforts to improve the livestock sector. This, by to supporting the nation’s farmers and livestock producers.
During the launch of the 2024 forage production campaign in Manga at the end of the week, the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Resources, and Fisheries announced several key measures.
The ministry is providing producers with vital resources at subsidized costs, including:
- 2,300 tonnes of forage seeds
- 8,553 tonnes of agro-industrial by-products
- 75 kits for the valorization of agricultural by-products
- 160 forage production equipment kits
- 1,000 hay barn construction kits
These initiatives aim to enhance forage production and increase the capacity of livestock farmers to address feeding challenges, particularly during the dry season.
Livestock farming is a crucial sub-sector for Burkina Faso’s economy, contributing over 18% to the national GDP and involving more than 80% of the population.
Acknowledging this significance, the government is actively promoting best practices in forage production and conservation.
These practices are essential to help farmers cope with feed shortages for their livestock.
For the 2023-2024 campaign, the available forage is estimated at 13,522,026 tonnes of dry matter, which only meets 76% of the total needs, estimated at 17,826,157 tonnes of dry matter.
Therefore, this government initiative is part of a broader effort to reduce this deficit and move towards food self-sufficiency.
The actions taken by the Burkinabe government, under the directives of President Ibrahim Traoré, demonstrate a strong commitment to food security and the development of the livestock sector.
Olivier TOE
