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

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

2.8k

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.

Read More: 

CSS and ECOWAS Begin Negotiations Months After Withdrawal from the Regional Blocs

BRS Studios Bets Big On African Stories With Powerful 2025 Film Lineup

About The Author

Leave a comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Articles

Bills to Remove Immunity
News

Reps Approve Tinubu’s $347m Loan Request to Cover Cost Hike in Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, Rural Telecoms Expansion

The Nigerian House of Representatives has approved President Bola Tinubu’s request to...

News

Nigerian-Israeli Group Pushes to Include Nigeria in “Abraham Accords” as Part of Israel’s Apartheid Normalisation Drive

Israeli Lobby Targets Nigeria Through FramanAgridev’s Covert Dealings The normalisation of Israel’s...

NewsWorld

US and Israel Turn Africa Into a Dumping Ground for Deportees and Displaced Palestinians

The United States and Israel are being criticised for trying to send...

Nigeria’s External borrowing
News

Tinubu’s Coastal Highway Project Faces Scrutiny as Senate Approves $700 Million Loan with Just 30km Completed

Nigeria’s Senate has approved a $700 million external loan for the Lagos-Calabar...