Wheat Production in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Glimmer of Hope
Contrary to North Africa, where wheat is a deeply rooted crop, few countries south of the Sahara have biophysical conditions (climate and soil) conducive to competitive production. However, some exceptions show that it is possible to overcome these obstacles.
In sub-Saharan Africa, wheat is the second most consumed cereal after maize. Although its production is almost non-existent, recent developments in the West African sub-region suggest a revolution.
Burkina Faso Leads the Way
The Burkinabé government has recently approved a convention for wheat seed production on a 5,000-hectare area for the 2024/2025 campaign. This initiative aims to support local production, which was previously experimental, of this cereal.
This initiative follows a successful trial that allowed for the harvest of 250 tons of wheat during the previous agricultural campaign, thanks to a supply of 20 tons of seeds. It is also part of the wheat sector revival plan, initiated by the government in 2023, which aims to reach a local harvest of 6,500 tons by 2025.
Other Countries Follow Suit
In addition to Burkina Faso, Senegal announced in early 2023 that it would conduct large-scale wheat production experiments, with trials planned for the end of the year. The Senegalese government aims to reduce its wheat imports by 40% by 2028.
In March 2024, Mauritania announced the success of its first wheat cultivation trial on a 200-hectare area, as part of a public-private partnership, with estimated yields of 4 to 5 tons per hectare in the Trarza region.
A Glimmer of Hope
These various initiatives nourish the hope of reducing wheat imports in countries that almost entirely depend on them. According to FAO data, West African countries imported over 9 million tons of wheat, worth more than $3.8 billion, in 2022.
