Small-scale irrigation in Burkina Faso: The French Development Agency grants more than CFAF 16 billion
The Minister of Economy, Finance and Planning, proceeded, in the evening of Tuesday 21 December 2021, to the signing of a financing agreement for a total amount of 16.3 billion CFA francs with the French Development Agency (AFD). This financing comes within the framework of the Support Project for Small-Scale Irrigation in the Greater West and East Regions (PIGO+).
The development of irrigation is one of the levers in the fight against food and economic insecurity in Sahelian countries. Indeed, irrigated agriculture is a significant opportunity for the development of agriculture in Burkina Faso because of its vulnerability to the effects of climate change.
Considering the need to develop this type of agriculture in Burkina, the French Development Agency (AFD) has signed a credit agreement to finance the Small-Scale Irrigation Support Project in the Great West and East Regions (PIGO+).
The loan agreement, amounting to CFAF 16.39 billion, is in addition to the resources already mobilized through a grant agreement signed between the Government of Burkina Faso and the German Development Cooperation (KFW).
The overall objective of the project is to sustainably increase agricultural production capacity through small-scale irrigation and the creation of processing and marketing opportunities for small farmers in selected production basins in the far west and east of Burkina Faso.
According to the French ambassador to Burkina Faso, Luc Hallade, this initiative is of great importance not by its amount but by its content. "This program will allow us to bring help to the population, to bring a little hope and a little income to the population so that they can face the difficulties of the moment and above all achieve the objectives of the program.This program will allow us to help the people, to bring a little hope and a little income to the people so that they can cope with the difficulties of the moment and especially to achieve the objectives set by the President of Faso himself, which is to improve agricultural production, especially to produce one million tons of rice throughout the country."
In the same vein, the ministry in charge of agriculture affirmed that the PIGO+ project will contribute to the improvement of food security of rural populations around the improved lowlands and small perimeters.In the same vein, the Ministry of Agriculture stated that the PIGO+ project will contribute to the improvement of food security of rural populations around the improved lowlands and small irrigated areas, and to the increase of their incomes in order to contribute to the reduction of poverty in rural areas because 80% of the poor populations are from rural areas.
The main results expected from this project are, among others, the creation of 40,000 direct jobs, the creation of 2,950 ha of improved lowlands and their development, 682 ha of irrigated perimeters to be improved, 45 warrantage stores, and the creation of a new market.The project will create 40,000 direct jobs, create and develop 2,950 ha of improved lowlands, 682 ha of irrigated areas to be developed, 45 warrantage stores with drying areas, 20 onion stores, 15 input shops, and the acquisition of agricultural equipment including 30 tractors, 50 power tillers, 100 threshers and 15 processing units including their equipment. The intervention area extends to the Cascades, South-West, Hauts-Bassins and East regions, for a five-year implementation period from 2021 to 2026.
Source: lefaso.net
