Burkina Faso has officially overtaken Senegal to become the third-largest producer of onions in West Africa, marking a significant milestone in the country’s agricultural development. With an impressive harvest of over 400,000 tonnes of onions this year, the nation is rapidly gaining ground both regionally and continentally. The is one of the core mandates of the President, Ibrahim Traore of creating a better livelihood and sufficiency for his people.
This surge not only places Burkina Faso ahead of Senegal in production but also ranks the country as the second-largest onion exporter in West Africa, trailing only Niger, which continues to lead in exports.
According to agricultural experts and government data, this growth is the result of a combination of factors including increased investment in irrigation systems, the expansion of cultivated land, improved seed varieties, and better access to regional markets. Local farmers have also benefited from training programs aimed at improving post-harvest handling and storage, reducing losses, and ensuring better quality onions reach consumers.
At this pace, Burkina Faso is on track to become the 9th largest onion producer in Africa, a move that could boost its agricultural economy and create thousands of jobs across farming, transport, and market distribution.
“This is a proud moment for Burkina Faso. It shows the resilience and hard work of our farmers and the positive impact of ongoing reforms in the sector.
Onions are a staple crop across West Africa, widely used in local cuisine and an essential component of regional trade. As demand continues to rise across borders, Burkina Faso’s emerging dominance in the onion market positions it as a key player in ensuring food security and agricultural trade in the region.
Economists and trade analysts predict that if current trends continue, Burkina Faso could further expand its export markets beyond West Africa and explore value-added onion products to strengthen its agricultural exports portfolio.
