Rice production in Burkina Faso

Rice is the fourth most cultivated cereal in Burkina Faso, following corn, sorghum, and millet. The government is working to boost local production and processing to reduce reliance on imported rice.

New rice mill inaugurated

On October 20, Prime Minister Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Ouédraogo opened a public rice mill in Bagré, Nakambé region. The facility, managed by the state-owned company Faso Agropôles (SOFA), can process 100 tonnes of paddy rice daily.

Modern processing technology

The mill is equipped with advanced systems for cleaning, dehusking, whitening, optical sorting, and automated packaging. These technologies aim to transform paddy rice into marketable rice, improving the value of local harvests.

Rice production growth

Paddy rice production has grown significantly in recent years, increasing by 50% over four years. According to the National Institute of Statistics and Demography (INSD), production rose from 451,421 tonnes in 2020-2021 to 675,441 tonnes in 2024-2025.

National development strategy

Burkina Faso has been implementing the second phase of its National Rice Development Strategy (SNDR) since 2020. The goal is to reach 3 million tonnes of paddy production by 2030, but challenges remain in processing and selling the increased harvests.

Rising consumption and imports

Rice consumption in Burkina Faso has grown from about 830,000 tonnes in 2019-2020 to 1.29 million tonnes in 2024-2025. Despite increased local white rice production, the gap is still filled by imports from countries like India, Burma, and Thailand.

Import restrictions introduced

In April 2026, the government temporarily suspended rice imports and issued special permits to help local producers sell their stock. This move aimed to support domestic rice markets and reduce reliance on foreign suppliers.