Burkina Faso commissions two US$2.6M fish feed plants to boost aquaculture output

BURKINA FASO — The Ministry of Agriculture officially inaugurated two fish feed manufacturing plants in Bobo-Dioulasso and Bagré on March 13, in a move aimed at strengthening local feed supply, lowering production costs, and supporting the expansion of the country’s small but growing aquaculture sector.

The two plants were built at a combined cost of CFA 1.5 billion (US$2.6 million) and were financed entirely by the government. 

Each facility has a production capacity ranging from 1.5 to 2 metric tons per hour. 

The Bobo-Dioulasso plant will be operated by Faso Guulgo, a state-owned company specialising in feed for poultry, livestock, and fish. 

Faso Agropole, another state-owned agro-industrial company, will manage the Bagré facility.

In a statement, made by the Ministry of Agriculture, the commissioning of the new facilities would secure the supply of essential inputs, improve the competitiveness of domestic fish production, and accelerate the development of the aquaculture sector. 

“It will also contribute to the creation of direct and indirect jobs, particularly for young people,” the statement added.

Feed represents the largest share of production costs in fish farming. 

Expanding domestic feed production is therefore seen as a critical measure to reduce costs and improve competitiveness. 

In a January report, the World Economic Forum noted that aquaculture production costs in Africa are 10% to 20% higher than the global average due to limited local feed production. 

The report noted that most African countries rely on imported feed composed of soybean meal, which is also used for human consumption, and fishmeal, extracted from wild-caught fish.

Expansion of aquaculture

The launch of these plants comes amid a broader push to expand aquaculture across Burkina Faso. 

On February 4, the ministry inaugurated a floating-cage fish-farming project in Dori, in the Liptako region, with a production potential of 200 tonnes of fish per year.

Floating cage farming was first piloted in April 2024 at the Samandéni dam in the Hauts-Bassins region, as part of the Agro-Pastoral and Fisheries Offensive. 

The project initially installed 180 cages and targeted an eventual production of 54,000 tonnes per year by attracting private investors. 

Following the success of Samandéni, a floating cage project called “Dumu Ka Fa” was launched at the Bagré dam reservoir later in 2024. 

The initiative, supported by the country’s food sovereignty fund, initially involved 44 private investors and has the potential to produce 1,500 tonnes of fish per year.

Despite these initiatives, aquaculture remains underdeveloped. 

Government estimates place the theoretical production potential at 110,000 tonnes per year, yet only about 1% of this capacity is currently exploited. 

According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation, aquaculture production in Burkina Faso totalled just 1,127 tonnes in 2023.

The ministry expects the new feed plants to play a central role in bridging this gap, improving input availability, and supporting the growth of a sector that has long struggled with high costs and limited infrastructure.

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