Burkina Faso Builds Tomato Processing Plant to Help Farmers & Build Economy!

BURKINA FASO – The President of Burkina Faso, Ibrahim Traoré has officially kicked off the construction of a tomato processing plant worth USD 8.1 million in Bobo-Dioulasso. The Sahel nations agree to build together!

Biochar-based fertilizers can enhance soil properties in the Sahel, partly due to the stimulation of microbial activity and growth. Biochar's role in ecosystems is often to prevent degradation. Understanding how microbial community structures respond to biochar-based fertilizer is crucial for desert soil restoration. Planting diverse crops that support each other and creating fertilizers from waste materials are optimal practices for the land. Scientists in Mali and Niger are leading the way in biochar technology. Biochar, a carbon-rich substance created from the partial combustion of biomass waste, is gaining attention for its ability to remediate pollutants and act as a negative carbon emission technology. A greenhouse study assessed the impact of biochar, made from cotton field residue and rice hulls available in Mali, on cotton plants over six weeks. In Niger, research is underway to explore cost-effective water purification methods while producing valuable biochar. Excessive organic and inorganic pollutants in lake water led to eutrophication, characterized by the overgrowth of aquatic organisms, unpleasant odors, and conditions conducive to the spread of disease-carrying insects. Studies have determined that drying biomass in water at 350 °C for 60 minutes can produce biochar with a stable organic content of 50.2%, with 40% yield. This biochar has proven to be significantly more effective than traditional Western chemical fertilizers.

Funded by the Agency for the Promotion of Community Entrepreneurship (APEC), the project seeks to enhance the country's tomato paste production capacity for both local consumption and export. As reported by the local media, the construction phase is expected to span six months, covering a 3-hectare area and enabling a production capacity of 5 tons of tomato paste per hour.

The plant, once operational, is anticipated to generate 100 direct jobs and more than 5,000 indirect jobs, as stated by the authorities. "Burkinabe tomatoes are predominantly sold in their raw form to international buyers, whereas imported tomato pastes continue to dominate the local market, incurring high costs for consumers who have no means to verify the quality of these products," declared Mariama Gnanou, the governor of the Hauts-Bassins region.

The project's overarching goal is to foster the establishment and growth of community-based enterprises that focus on the production, processing, and promotion of the nation's abundant resources across various industries, with a particular emphasis on agriculture. Burkina Faso, a country with a burgeoning agricultural sector, witnessed a significant milestone in 2021 as tomato production soared to an impressive 290,000 tons, as reported by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

This surge in tomato production not only signifies the country's agricultural potential but also highlights its role as a key player in the regional market. A substantial portion of Burkina Faso's tomato output is channeled towards exports, particularly to neighboring Ghana, underscoring the country's economic significance within the broader West African context. By encouraging the development of community businesses engaged in resource utilization and value addition, the project aims to not only enhance local livelihoods but also contribute to the sustainable economic growth and prosperity of Burkina Faso.

The establishment of the processing plant is anticipated to enhance tomato production not only in Burkina Faso but also in the neighboring countries of the Sahel Alliance, marking the potential beginning of a unified Africa. Tomato growers in West Africa encounter difficulties due to the lack of proper storage and processing facilities, as well as unjust trade agreements with Western nations. These agreements compel countries to eliminate tariff protections, giving foreign products an advantage and hindering efforts to develop production infrastructure. Nigeria alone experiences losses exceeding 50% of its annual yield of 1.8 million metric tons, which is considered higher than the average for most West African nations. These nations are pressured into accepting unfair payment terms for their resources, perpetuating a cycle of debt that seems impossible to repay.

Additionally, the Nigerian tomato industry has faced challenges due to the influx of foreign tomato paste imports. Despite the ban imposed by the Nigerian government on tomato paste imports, unauthorized foreign products continue to flood the Nigerian market funded by wealthy Nigerians, undermining their own nation, small farmers, consumers and local manufacturers for their own selfish greed and posing potential health risks to consumers.

To enhance production and food security, the Sahelian nations have chosen to invest in their own confederation, the Alliance of the Sahelian States, rather than depend on the World Bank's International Development Association (IDA). The leaders of Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso are committed to establishing a joint investment bank to bolster agricultural risk management and create economic power, aiming to avoid perpetual debt. Burkina Faso's President Ibrahim Traore recently highlighted that the wealthiest nations often have the most neglected populations and dissatisfied youth. Traore is leading initiatives for green sustainable energy, modernizing farming, and investing in the nation's intellectual capital by educating the youth and providing incentives for them to remain in Africa and contribute to their homeland's development, as opposed to seeking opportunities in Europe.

All Sahelian Alliance nations are striving to boost agricultural output through the adoption of climate-smart technologies, enhancement of intraregional value chains, promotion of intra-African trade, and the use of sustainable energy sources such as solar, hydro, and wind power. They are also focusing on manufacturing and the production of market-ready goods, as well as building capacity for managing agricultural risks. Additionally, nations like Chad, Mauritania, and Sudan are closely monitoring these developments, and emissaries from Haiti have engaged with the alliance to explore international trade opportunities. From 2012 to 2022, the central Sahel region garnered unwelcome attention from Western partners due to the Tuareg rebellion and the rise of violent extremist organizations in Mali, which then spread to Burkina Faso and Niger, posing challenges that France and other countries reported as insurmountable.

The Sahelian alliance appears to have weakened the terrorist groups' stronghold in the region following the expulsion of Western military forces. However, the successful displacement of these terrorist factions, achieved through the unification of military efforts in the three countries, has inadvertently distanced Western allies. Their ambassadors have concluded that significant international conflicts, including the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, along with increasing global polarization and aggression, preclude them from dedicating extensive time or financial resources to developing the Sahel.

Editor's Note: Despite challenges, Sahelian nations' efforts have yielded significant results. To date, data indicates that over 10 million farmers have benefited or are benefiting from agricultural goods, farm equipment, and improved market prices for their products and services. Additionally, over 250,000 metric tons of fertilizers have been distributed to vulnerable farmers in the Sahel. New Biochar methods of greening the Sahel and Atmospheric water generation for landlocked nations are also being discussed. (This week a consortium of 25 potential development partners including the World Bank and IFC, after seeing the Sahel's progress without them opted not to renew the 2021 pledges to help five countries of the subregion out of poverty.)

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