Burkina Faso secures US$20M loan to expand irrigation
BURKINA FASO – Burkina Faso has obtained a US$20 million loan from the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KEDEA) to support irrigation projects aimed at boosting agricultural production.
The Ministry of Economy and Finance announced on February 24 that the funding will be used to develop 2,000 hectares of irrigated land in Sono Kuri, located in Kossi province.
The project, which has an estimated total cost of US$59 million, is expected to strengthen food security and create employment opportunities in the country.
The initiative is expected to support the cultivation of various crops, including rice, corn, onions, tomatoes, potatoes, green beans, and bananas. Officials anticipate that once fully operational, the project will yield around 40,000 tons of agricultural products annually.
Beyond improving food production, the project is designed to provide significant employment opportunities. “Ultimately, the project is expected to create nearly 8,000 direct jobs for youth and women, as well as thousands of indirect jobs. It is in line with Burkina Faso’s strategic orientations, in particular the achievement of food sovereignty and the search for innovative ways for strong and inclusive growth through sustainable consumption and production patterns,” the Ministry stated.
Irrigation remains an underdeveloped sector in Burkina Faso, despite the country’s significant agricultural potential. To address this, the government has been securing additional funding to enhance water management and irrigation systems.
On February 12, the Council of Ministers approved a US$144 million financing agreement with the International Development Association (IDA) to support the Burkina Faso Water Security Project (PSE-BF).
The project, which will be implemented over six years, aims to rehabilitate 35 dams, develop 788 hectares of irrigated land, stock 15 water reservoirs, construct 15 fish ponds, and restore 5,000 hectares of degraded land.
In a statement, the government emphasized the importance of this investment, stating, “This financing will contribute to improving the safety of dams, access to associated irrigation and watershed services, and the resilience of beneficiaries to climate change.”
Ongoing investments in water management
In addition to the KEDEA and IDA financing agreements, Burkina Faso is also benefiting from the West Africa Food System Resilience Program (PRSA-BF).
In January, the program’s Steering Committee announced plans to allocate more than US$23.6 million to projects focused on irrigation, lowland farming, and market gardening in 2025.
According to official data, Burkina Faso has more than 233,500 hectares of irrigable land suitable for rice production.
However, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reports that less than 5% of this land has been developed.
Until these improvements take effect, much of the country’s agriculture remains dependent on rainfall, leaving farmers vulnerable to unpredictable weather conditions.
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