Burkina Faso’s President, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, officially handed over 20 optical sorters to rice mills across the country during a ceremony at the Regional Directorate of Agriculture in Hauts-Bassins.
The equipment, valued at 180 million FCFA (excluding taxes) and procured by the National Office of Major Projects, aims to enhance the quality and competitiveness of locally produced rice.
Speaking at the event, President Traoré stressed the importance of improving rice processing, stating, “We are officially handing over these sorters to you for the benefit of cooperatives and valiant rice producers so that the rice is of very good quality. We hope to eat rice free of all impurities from now on.”
Dr. Abdourasmane Konaté, Special Advisor to the President on agricultural issues, described the equipment as strategic for boosting national rice production. “National rice is not competitive, in part, due to the low sorting capacity, which affects the quality of the finished product,” he explained.
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He highlighted that these are next-generation optical sorters with a capacity of 64 million megapixels, capable of removing all impurities and calibrating rice grains. The machines have varying processing capacities, with some sorting 1.6 tons per hour and others handling 4 to 6 tons per hour. Dr. Konaté also mentioned plans for training programs to ensure proper use of the equipment.
Representing rice processors, Seydou Konaté, President of the Hauts-Bassins Rice Innovation Platform, expressed gratitude for the initiative, saying, “With the arrival of these technologically advanced machines, it is a sign of relief for us. Our rice will have nothing to envy imported rice.” He noted that the initiative would significantly improve the quality and competitiveness of locally produced rice, giving it more value.
The distribution of the sorters coincided with President Traoré’s visit to inaugurate the Burkinabe Tomato Company, reflecting ongoing efforts to promote agricultural development and food self-sufficiency in Burkina Faso.
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