Burkina Faso Distributes $179 million Worth of Agricultural Equipment to Farmers Using Funds from Nationalised Gold Mining Operations

Burkina Faso has launched a major agricultural campaign funded by internally generated revenues. On 22 May 2025, President Ibrahim Traoré ‍handed over more than 104 billion CFA francs (approximately $172 million) worth of agricultural equipment and inputs to farmers in Bobo-Dioulasso.

The agricultural support is part of the government’s plan to achieve food self-sufficiency and create decent jobs in the rural sector. It falls under two major initiatives: the “Offensive agropastorale et halieutique 2023–2025” and the Presidential Initiative for Agricultural Production.

During the ceremony, President Traoré formally handed the equipment keys to the Minister of State for Agriculture, Animal and Fisheries Resources, Commander Ismaël Sombié.

I officially hand over the keys to all this machinery and wish you a successful farming season. Let us pray for good rains and hope you meet the goals set for this year,” he said.

The distribution included 608 tractors, 1033 motorbikes for field agents, 485 water pumps, 1102 power tillers, 17 trucks, two drilling units, four harvesters, 935 floating fish cages, 36 vehicles, 150 grinders, and 10 processing units.

There were also vast amounts of agricultural supplies; over 31,851 tonnes of pesticides, 70,000 tonnes of mineral fertilisers, 14,631 tonnes of organic manure, 15,000 tonnes of crop seeds, 1,580 tonnes of fish feed, 11,169 tonnes of livestock feed, and nearly 67 million doses of veterinary medicines.

According to Commander Sombié, more than 2,000 hectares of irrigated farmland have been developed to support this effort. The aim is to achieve structural transformation of the agriculture and livestock sectors.

The materials will enhance mechanised farming brigades across the country. These brigades will provide free services to vulnerable populations and subsidised services for others, significantly boosting national food production.

This investment in rural development is supported by the nationalisation of two major gold mines – Boungou and Wahgnion, which British-listed Endeavour Mining previously controlled. After the sale of the mines to Lilium Mining in 2023 fell through due to payment defaults, the government took control in 2024. Burkina Faso paid Endeavour $60 million for the takeover and agreed to a three per cent royalty on up to 400,000 ounces of gold from Wahgnion.

Since then, gold revenues have been redirected to national priorities such as agriculture. Over 78 billion CFA francs were reportedly allocated from this stream alone to fund the farming campaign, which now totals more than 104 billion CFA francs with further contributions from the state budget.

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