Burkina Faso plans to harvest 6 thsd tons of wheat in the MY 2025/26

Burkina Faso is ramping up efforts to boost wheat production, targeting 6,000 tonnes in the MY 2025/26, as announced by the Ministry of Agriculture on August 19. This ambitious goal more than doubles the 2,597 tonnes harvested in the previous season, underscoring the country’s commitment to reducing reliance on wheat imports. Since launching a national wheat cultivation recovery plan in 2023, Burkina Faso has emerged as one of the few West African nations prioritizing large-scale wheat production.

In the 2024/25 season, wheat cultivation expanded to 1,342 ha, a tenfold increase from the 125 ha of the previous year. To meet the 2025/2026 target, the government is enhancing support for farmers by providing certified seeds, fertilizers, plant protection products, and equipment for irrigation, harvesting, and post-harvest processing. The ministry also plans to strengthen producer training in best wheat production practices, though details on the budget for these initiatives remain undisclosed.

These efforts aim to curb wheat imports, which averaged 193,000 tonnes annually between 2019 and 2023, costing approximately 42.5 billion CFA francs (about US$75 million). In February 2025, the Moulin Double Star Mill, built by the Zidnaba Group for 15 billion CFA francs (US$23.6 million), was inaugurated in Gampéla. With a daily capacity of 220 tonnes of flour and 80 tonnes of bran, the mill, commissioned in the presence of President Ibrahim Traoré, supports Burkina Faso’s strategy to bolster food security and industrial self-sufficiency. However, the 6,000-tonne target will cover only a fraction of national demand.

Tags: wheat, crop forecast, Burkina Faso