Burkina Faso Prime Minister launches agropastoral offensive

Burkina Faso Prime Minister Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Ouédraogo has launched a major initiative to bolster national food sovereignty through expanded agricultural and livestock production. During a tour of the Centre-East region, the Prime Minister announced an operation to develop 50,000 hectares of irrigated land and inaugurated a modern rice mill.

In the livestock sector, the government is implementing the second phase of its agropastoral, hydraulic, and fisheries offensive. Key measures include mass vaccination campaigns, artificial insemination, and the digital identification of cattle to improve traceability and combat theft. To support producers, the state has significantly subsidized bovine artificial insemination, reducing costs from 50,000 to 5,000 FCFA.

The government has set ambitious production targets, including the production of 100,000 tonnes of fish, the processing of 75 million litres of milk, and the annual export of 35,000 tonnes of meat. Additionally, the Prime Minister oversaw mechanized maize harvesting in Bagré and announced plans to construct new slaughterhouses across several localities to enhance local processing and economic value.