OUAGADOUGOU, April 21 (Xinhua) -- In central Burkina Faso, a China-backed agricultural initiative is driving rural development through diversified farming.
In Nariou village in the Nando Region, nearly 1,000 chickens were sold in a single morning, highlighting the success of a new agricultural project.
"The sale of poultry allows me to earn income without waiting for the harvest season. This way, I can pay for my children's schooling and invest in other activities," farmer Kabore Adjarata said.
Nariou is the first integrated demonstration village for poverty reduction established under the third phase of China's agricultural technical assistance project in Burkina Faso, implemented by the Foreign Economic Cooperation Center of China's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.
Previously, poultry farming in Burkina Faso was hampered by breed deterioration and gaps in disease prevention. To improve chick survival and profitability, Chinese experts provided comprehensive support, including breed selection, chick rearing, technical training and marketing assistance.
After three months of rearing, a chicken can be sold for about 4,000 CFA francs (about 7.17 U.S. dollars). According to livestock expert Zhang Huazhi, 50 households each received 20 chicks, with an average survival rate of 93.2 percent. Sales are expected to generate more than 70,000 CFA francs in additional income per household.
Rice cultivation is also a major source of income for local households. Since 2018, three high-quality hybrid rice varieties selected by Chinese experts have been introduced into the West African country.
In the Nariou demonstration field, hybrid rice yields reached 9.2 tonnes per hectare this year, more than three times the local average. Villagers have thus ensured their food security while selling the surplus through a cooperative.
The third phase of the project, launched in March 2025, introduced an integrated "rice-livestock-fish farming" model to further increase villagers' incomes.
According to agricultural expert Deng Chengang, the village has strong potential for fish farming, thanks to abundant rainfall, a reservoir built with Chinese assistance and available fish feed resources.
With close guidance from experts, the fish now reach market size after four to five months of rearing. "Our village is becoming known for fish farming. Many people come to learn, and we are happy to share our know-how," said village chief Salam Tinga Kiendrebeogo.
"Fish farming is expected to bring in about one million CFA francs for our village, strengthening our collective economy. We hope Chinese experts will continue to support us," he added.
This China-Burkina Faso agricultural cooperation exemplifies the implementation of the eight major initiatives of China-Africa cooperation. The Chinese agricultural expert team plans to help cooperatives access markets in the capital, Ouagadougou, and surrounding areas, and to explore a circular agriculture model combining "rice-fish-poultry" to enhance the overall profitability of local agriculture.
"Chinese experts bring not only advanced technology but, more importantly, solutions tailored to our realities. The integrated 'crop-livestock' model makes farmers' incomes more stable and resilient, offering valuable experience for rural poverty reduction," said Dianda Idrissa, a representative of Burkina Faso's Ministry of Agriculture.
