Burkina Faso to exempt VAT on fish feed to support fisheries

BURKINA FASO – The government of Burkina Faso has announced the removal of Value Added Tax (VAT) on fish feed as part of efforts to ease costs within the fisheries and aquaculture sector.

The decision was disclosed in a statement from the presidency on Thursday, September 4, 2025, following a Council of Ministers meeting.

Officials said the exemption forms part of an amendment to the General Tax Code aimed at reducing expenses for those engaged in fishing activities.

The measure is also expected to lessen household spending while creating space for private investors to channel resources into the sector.

This development comes under the government’s Agro-Pastoral and Fisheries Offensive 2023-2025 (OPAH), a program designed to raise production in eight strategic sectors, including fish, poultry, and rice.

Through OPAH, authorities are seeking to meet at least half of the country’s fish consumption needs by the end of 2025.

Fish remains a key food item in Burkina Faso, and the government has repeatedly highlighted its importance in addressing the population’s dietary requirements.

The initiative also fits within a wider strategy to curb reliance on imported foods and move toward food self-sufficiency.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Resources, and Fisheries, the cost of implementing the OPAH plan is valued at around US$953 million (592 billion CFA francs).

Officials argue that expanding fish production will not only improve access to affordable protein but also strengthen the resilience of rural communities dependent on fishing.

At the same time, the tax relief is expected to attract new players to the industry, particularly in feed supply, where costs have often been cited as a barrier to growth.

The government’s stance reflects growing pressure to find domestic solutions to food demand as Burkina Faso continues to manage rising import bills and a challenging economic environment.

While the VAT exemption marks one of the most immediate steps to lower production costs, authorities insist that broader investment in infrastructure and technical support will be necessary to achieve long-term targets.

The next phase of the program will focus on scaling up fish farms across different regions, alongside increasing distribution capacity to ensure national coverage.

With these adjustments, the government hopes that by 2025, at least one in two fish consumed in the country will be sourced locally rather than imported.

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