Agriculture has been one of the key drivers of economic growth in Burkina Faso. A majority of the Burkinabe population is employed within the agricultural sector, and the sector continues to account for a significant share of economic output even as the economy has grown. Over the past 15 years, the agricultural sector added a considerable share of revenue to the national GDP.
Within the agricultural sector, cotton has historically been Burkina Faso’s most economically important crop, this is obvious from the sector’s role as the largest generator of Burkina Faso’s export earnings over several years. Cotton export revenues have provided Burkina Faso with a stable source of foreign currency that has accelerated economic development in other sectors. The focus on improving cotton value chain in Burkina Faso will further improve other sectors of the economy and provide create more employment opportunities for women and youths especially in cotton oil processing, which is often neglected.
