Burkina Faso moves to renew mango plantations and boost production

BURKINA FASO – Burkina Faso has rolled out a national plan to renew and expand its mango plantations, aiming to strengthen the sector’s role in the economy.

The Ministry of Agriculture announced that between June and August 2025, it distributed nearly 400,000 mango seedlings to farmers across the country.

“This effort will help renew aging orchards and create new plantings,” the ministry said in a statement posted on its Facebook page on August 10.

“These plants, from varieties selected for their yield and adaptation to local conditions, will make it possible to improve both the quantity and the quality of production.”

The mango sector is one of eight priorities under the “Agropastoral and Fisheries Offensive 2023-2025” program, which seeks to increase output and improve the value of key agricultural commodities.

The government hopes the move will solidify the country’s position in international markets while improving food security.

Despite strong demand, production has fluctuated in recent years. Figures from the Burkina Faso Export Promotion Agency (APEX-Burkina) show output rising from 197,302 tons in 2018 to 271,503 tons in 2020, then dropping by almost 27 percent in 2021 to 199,240 tons. In 2022, production jumped 51 percent to 300,000 tons.

Exports have also varied. Between 2019 and 2023, mango shipments earned an average of 17.18 billion CFA francs (US$30.5 million) annually, peaking at 22.1 billion CFA francs (US$39.3 million) in 2022. The area under mango cultivation was estimated at 33,000 hectares in 2022.

Senegal invests in horticultural storage

In Senegal, the government is focusing on post-harvest handling to support the fast-growing horticulture industry. Minister of Industry and Trade Serigne Guèye Diop said the country plans to create between 200,000 and 300,000 tons of storage capacity over the next two years.

He made the announcement during the first national horticulture forum, held on August 5 and 6 in Diamniadio.

“Discussions are underway with partners for the realization of at least 200,000 tons of storage capacity,” Diop said, as reported by the Senegalese Press Agency.

The Market Regulatory Agency has already held talks with Chinese cold chain equipment manufacturer Guangxi Chang Neige Group to explore possible investments in modern cold storage.

Officials expect the move to reduce post-harvest losses, which currently affect up to 20 percent of harvests annually.

The plan comes ahead of projected record harvests in 2025. Onion production is expected to reach 450,000 tons, about 5 percent higher than the 2018-2023 average, while potato production could hit 240,000 tons, a 64 percent jump compared to the same period’s average.

These coordinated efforts in Burkina Faso and Senegal signal a stronger push in West Africa to modernize production systems, stabilize supply, and improve export competitiveness.

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