The Agricultural Revolution in the AES: A Path to Self-Sufficiency
In a bold move toward true African self-determination, the Sahelian Confederation —led by Burkina Faso and Niger—has embarked on an agricultural revolution aimed at breaking free from neocolonial dependence and ensuring food security. Under Captain Ibrahim Traoré’s leadership, Burkina Faso has made unprecedented strides in agricultural production, mechanization, and food processing, while Niger has fought off Western economic sanctions to secure its food supply.
Burkina Faso: The Drive for Food Sovereignty
At the Russia-Africa Summit in 2023, Traoré reaffirmed his commitment to food self-sufficiency, rejecting the notion of relying on foreign cereal shipments. Since taking office in 2022, his government has implemented the Presidential Initiative for Agricultural Production (2023-2024) under the broader Offensive Agro-Pastoral and Fisheries Development Plan (2023-2025). Key actions include increasing production of vital crops like rice, maize, and vegetables. Providing farmers with essential tools, seeds, and fertilizers. Constructing vital infrastructure, including irrigation systems and processing plants. And mobilizing the military to support agricultural efforts.
The results have been staggering. Burkina Faso has built two tomato processing plants and a second cotton processing facility, boosting tomato output from 315,000 metric tonnes in 2022 to 360,000 metric tonnes in 2024. Millet production jumped from 907,000 to 1.1 million metric tonnes, while rice output climbed from 280,000 to 326,000 metric tonnes within the same period. The government has also supplied over 400 tractors, 239 tillers, 710 motor pumps, and 714 motorcycles to farmers.
Beyond mechanization, Traoré has focused on improving road infrastructure to reduce food losses and enhancing local processing to keep value-added production within the country. Burkina Faso’s success has even allowed it to export rice to neighboring African nations, solidifying its role as a regional leader in food security.
Niger: Overcoming Sanctions and Climate Challenges
Niger’s agricultural sector, critical to over 75% of its population, faced severe challenges following Western-backed ECOWAS sanctions in response to the country’s 2023 anti-imperialist shift under the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP) led by General Abdourahamane Tchiani. The blockade led to a doubling of rice prices and acute food shortages. Floods in 2024 further devastated crops across 470,000 acres, worsening the crisis.
Despite these hardships, Niger’s new government has taken decisive action by supplying peasant associations with tractors, irrigation pumps, and subsidized fertilizers. Allowing farmers to repay agricultural support in cash or through portions of their harvest. Banning the export of food crops outside the Confederation of Sahel States (AES) to prevent foreign exploitation and stabilize domestic food prices. And finally, strengthening security to protect farmers from terrorist threats, enabling them to cultivate land safely. These policies have led to a sharp drop in cereal prices and a revitalized agricultural sector, with farmers hailing the government as a "blessing."
A Revolutionary Shift Toward Economic Independence
The agricultural advances in Burkina Faso and Niger are not isolated developments but part of a larger anti-imperialist movement in the Sahel. By prioritizing self-reliance over Western dependency, these nations are taking control of their natural resources and economic destinies. Traoré, in particular, has questioned the need for IMF loans, mirroring the legacy of Thomas Sankara’s vision for economic independence.
The AES Confederation presents a model for pan-African cooperation, reducing reliance on Western aid while fostering regional trade and development. With Burkina Faso and Niger proving that agricultural self-sufficiency is possible, the path to a sovereign, independent Africa is clearer than ever.