Cashew Project in Burkina Faso Reaps Green Growth and Empowerment.

Wednesday 9th July 2025

By inAfrika Reporter

In Burkina Faso’s Comoé Basin, a groundbreaking project has turned cashew farming into a model of green development. The Cashew Development Support Project for REDD+ (PADA/REDD+) combined climate action, poverty reduction, and women’s empowerment over seven years, with a stunning implementation rate of 95%.

Backed by the African Development Bank and the African Development Fund, the project revitalized cashew production in three key regions. Over 1.6 million improved seedlings were planted across 27,000 hectares of agroforestry land, with one-third managed by women. More than 35,000 farmers were trained in sustainable practices, giving them the tools to raise incomes while improving soil health.

Access to finance was another breakthrough. Partnering with local cooperatives and microfinance institutions, the project funded 103 microprojects, created nearly 10,000 green jobs mostly for women and modernized seven cashew processing units. New infrastructure, trucks, and tricycles helped bridge rural logistics gaps, while training programs boosted local capacity across the value chain.

Women like Aramatou Barro and Christiane Koné are now key players in the cashew economy, leading processing units and managing equipment that doubles their productivity. Meanwhile, traders like Isso Kindo have seen distribution transform with reliable transport systems. The project didn’t just plant trees; it planted opportunity and stability.