Burkina Faso unveils strategic plans to transform aquaculture and boost food security

On June 8 in Ouagadougou, stakeholders from Burkina Faso’s aquaculture sector validated and released a series of strategic documents designed to guide the industry’s long-term development. These materials include a sector diagnosis, an investment pathway, and an operational guide, all created to steer both public policies and private investments in aquaculture.

This effort is part of the Sahel RESILAND regional program, which aims to strengthen the resilience of Sahelian landscapes and the communities that rely on them. The initiative focuses on sustainable land and water management, restoring degraded ecosystems, and diversifying rural economic activities to create jobs and improve living conditions.

At the core of this framework, the knowledge pillar plays a critical role. It aims to inform public decision-making, organize future actions, and promote solutions tailored to local conditions. The Africa Sustainable Aquaculture initiative operates within this context, covering several Sahel countries, including Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and Chad. Its goal is to produce in-depth national assessments and define coherent investment paths for sustainable aquaculture development.

The work carried out has produced an updated overview of Burkina Faso’s aquaculture sector, highlighting both its potential and its structural challenges. It also led to the development of an investment roadmap outlining strategic priorities, funding needs, and implementation mechanisms, along with a guide to support public and private project promoters.

Presiding over the meeting, Issiaka Zouri, a studies officer at the General Secretariat of the Ministry of Agriculture, Water, and Animal and Fishery Resources, praised the involvement of all contributors. He highlighted how this initiative aligns with national goals for developing animal and fishery production, particularly through the agropastoral and fisheries offensive.

According to Zouri, Burkina Faso has major assets, including significant water resources and still-underutilized fishery potential. Effective implementation of the guidelines from this work should further structure the sector, boost national fish production, improve food and nutritional security, and create new economic opportunities for youth and women.