Burkina Faso experiences low and variable rainfalls, land degradation, deforestation and desertification. Despite the harsh climate, Burkina Faso’s agriculture sector continues to generate roughly a third of the country’s GDP and employs 80 percent of the population.

Agriculture production is generally characterized by low crop and livestock productivity and mainly supports subsistence livelihoods. While improvements in the agriculture sector have greatly reduced the threat of recurring famine, more than 3.5 million people, roughly 20 percent of the population, are food insecure. Although there has not been a full scale crisis since the 2012 drought, USAID is partnering with the Government of Burkina Faso and other donors to prime rural populations with the means to withstand future expected climatic and other shocks. As the lead donor in the rural sector, USAID is also reinforcing the regulatory and policy environments by supporting government planning and implementation of rural land tenure practices.