Ibrahim Traoré & the Netherlands: The 11 Billion FCFA Floating Fish Farm Revolutionizing Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso is making history with a groundbreaking 11 billion FCFA floating fish farm project, thanks to the visionary leadership of President Captain Ibrahim Traoré and a strategic partnership with the Netherlands.
This initiative will transform fish production, ensuring food security, creating thousands of jobs, and reducing reliance on imports. By embracing innovative aquaculture, Burkina Faso is proving that even a landlocked nation can lead in sustainable fish farming.
Ibrahim Traore & Netherlands 11 billion FCFA Floating Fish Farm Project At Samandeni Water.
Fish farming in floating cages: PESA project Samandeni fishermen team.
The Acting Minister of State, Minister of Agriculture, Animal and Fisheries, Mr. Harouna SYLLA, presided over the official ceremony of handing over of floating cages to fishermen from the Samandeni watershed, on Monday, February 24, 2025, in Bama Municipality, Hauts-Bassins Region. The event took place in the presence of the Director General of Fisheries Resources, Mr. Alassane Moustapha TASSAMBEDO, and the Regional Director of Agriculture, Animal and Fisheries Resources of the Hauts-Bassins Region, Mr. Éric Pascal ADANABOU.
The Fisheries for Employment and Food Security (PESA) project has thus undertaken to equip fishermen in the Samandeni waterfront with floating cages for fish production. In total, 45 floating cages, 60 tons of fish food and 100,000 fryers were made available. Expected fish production due to this infrastructure is estimated to be around 300 tons per year.
The representative of the President of the Special Delegation of Bama, Mr. Bassien Roccar BASSANE, expressed his gratitude to the authorities of the Ministry of Animal and Fisheries Resources and the PESA project for this initiative benefiting local populations. He praised the commitment of the project's actors to involve fishermen in floating cage fish farming, which he considers to be a promising vision. He also urged beneficiaries to make optimal use of the infrastructures made available to them.
Mr. Lassina SANOU, Head of the PESA Project, emphasized that this initiative, which is part of the "Agropastoral and Fisheries Offensive 2023-2025", aims to support local people and promote fish entrepreneurship. It also aims to ensure a peaceful and secure environment between the different actors operating the water level.
After presenting the various achievements of the project, Mr. SANOU announced that the efforts for the current year will be focused on consolidating the acquisition, including through support inputs and equipment to beneficiaries and linking them with funding institutions. Among other things, the project intends to extend its support to new beneficiaries by providing them with floating cages, ponds, fish fry and food. In addition, PESA plans to set up hatches for the benefit of engaged promoters and trainings on various topics related to fish production and agricultural entrepreneurship.
For Mr. SYLLA, Mission Officer, this endowment represents a valuable opportunity that will not only strengthen fish production, but also combat overfishing and encourage peaceful coexistence between fishermen and fishkeepers. He hailed the commitment of the Kingdom of Netherlands, which accompanies the PESA project.
Beneficiaries have expressed their appreciation for the initiative. They highlighted the positive impact of these infrastructures on their business and living conditions. "Thanks to these floating cages, we now have the opportunity to increase our production and improve our income." This is a real opportunity for us and our families," Mamadou TRAORÉ testified.
Funded by the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the amount of around 11 billion FCFA and implemented by the Cordaid organization, the PESA project is taking place in the North-Central, East, North and Upper Basin regions. It also supports initiatives in the Plateau-Central and Central regions, including the establishment and operation of hatches and the strengthening of training centers.