Farmers in Burkina Faso are increasingly cultivating pineapples, a fruit traditionally considered exotic and difficult to grow in the country's arid Sahel region. This shift is part of a national strategy to decrease reliance on imports and adapt to a challenging climate.
Oumarou Compaoré, a farmer who founded his pineapple operation in 2018 near Bobo-Dioulasso, has cultivated about 50 hectares (124 acres) of the fruit. His initiative, partly inspired by pandemic-related border closures, aims to challenge the notion that Burkina Faso must import many of its food staples. Compaoré's farm now serves as a model, with his van inscribed, “Pioneer in pineapple production in the Sahel.”
"People told us that here we could only grow cotton, maize or sorghum,” Compaoré stated. “Because the fruit was in short supply, we were able to sell it easily.” He previously grew papayas with minimal profit.
The government, under Capt. Ibrahim Traoré, who assumed power in 2022, has prioritized food production as an issue of national sovereignty. As part of its economic growth plan, pineapples have been incorporated into the country's formal development strategy. While official data on pineapple production is scarce, farmers report a growing interest in the crop.
As of November, the administrative region encompassing Compaoré's farm saw its pineapple cultivation expand to approximately 100 hectares (248 acres), according to Adanabou Eric Pascal, the regional director of agriculture. Agricultural engineer Kola Jean, who works on Compaoré's farm and trains other farmers, estimated that over 100 farmers have begun pineapple production.
This initiative aligns with broader government efforts to enhance food self-sufficiency for the nation's 24 million inhabitants. In April, Burkina Faso suspended rice imports to promote local production and inaugurated two factories for tomato paste, a staple food, in 2024. A prominent supermarket in the capital, Ouagadougou, features a section dedicated to local produce labeled, “Let’s consume what we produce.” These steps aim to reduce dependence on imports, which historically exposed consumers to price volatility.
Despite these efforts, hunger remains a significant issue, exacerbated by a decade-long security crisis that has disrupted agricultural access and markets, displacing many. U.N. agencies report that approximately 2.7 million people face acute food insecurity, particularly during the lean season when food stocks are low and market prices rise.
Mdme Kaba Séré, another pineapple farmer in Houet Province, transitioned to farming in 2023 after international aid cuts. Initially told that pineapples could not grow in the Sahel, she was trained by Compaoré and has since expanded her farm to around 60,000 seedlings. "With pineapple, there is profit,” she said. “It has impacted my entire family because thanks to this I have been able to support them.”
The profitability of pineapples in Burkina Faso stems from their scarcity, making it easier for farmers to secure buyers before the fruit is harvested. However, challenges remain, including the need for investment in irrigation, fertilizer, and reliable transportation.
Pineapples require up to two years to mature and depend on a consistent water supply. Compaoré utilizes a well for irrigation on part of his land, an investment many farmers cannot afford. The climate also presents difficulties. Professor Pascal Bazongo, an expert in soil science and natural resource management at the University of Fada N’Gourma, noted that farmers are adapting by irrigating with cool water during the evenings of intense heat.
Compaoré remains optimistic about future advancements and increased yields. On recently acquired land, he plans to plant approximately 60,000 pineapple seedlings. He anticipates these new fields will produce between 60 and 75 metric tons (66-83 tons) of pineapples, with an estimated revenue of about 35 million CFA francs, or roughly $62,000. "We could even make the country self-sufficient in this fruit,” he said.