Burkina Faso creates wine company

Burkina Faso has created the Burkina Faso Wine Company (SOVIB), a state-run enterprise designed to process locally grown grapes. This initiative is part of the government’s broader goal to achieve food sovereignty and reduce dependence on imported goods.

Ownership and funding of SOVIB

SOVIB will be owned by the government (45%), BRAFASO (10%), and the private sector (45%). It has an initial capital of 1 billion CFA francs (about 1.7 million USD), with an expected industrial investment of nearly 17 million USD. A major industrial unit is planned for Bobo-Dioulasso, costing around 16.75 million USD.

Burkina Faso’s wine imports and suppliers

The country has imported an average of 13,780 tonnes of wine and grape must annually between 2021 and 2025, spending about 4.32 million USD each year. France was the largest supplier by value in 2025, followed by Togo and Spain.

Grape cultivation experiments underway

Grape cultivation trials are being conducted in Burkina Faso to determine if local conditions are suitable for growing wine grapes. One such trial is in Bèga, in the Bagré commune, where a 4-hectare plot with 17,496 grapevines of 12 different varieties is being tested.

More experiments in Bobo-Dioulasso

Another experiment is taking place at the National Agricultural Training School in Matourkou, near Bobo-Dioulasso. The project involves a 0.5-hectare plot, but no details have been released about the grape yields or quantities available for sale.

Challenges for a domestic wine industry

The success of SOVIB and a local wine industry will depend on both the company’s processing capacity and the availability of enough grapes. Moving from experimental farming to commercial production will be key to ensuring a steady supply and competitive prices for locally made wine.