Gabon's 2026 revised finance bill cuts agricultural funding while subsidizing imported flour
via Gabon Review5 min read
Gabon's 2026 Revised Finance Bill PLFR 2026, currently under review by the National Assembly's Finance Committee, proposes a significant reduction in funding for the agriculture, livestock, and fisheries sector. The mission dedicated to these areas is set to lose 72.4 billion CFA francs, representing a 53% decrease from its initial allocation. This cut is one of the most substantial proportional reductions across the forty-three budgetary missions in the bill. Simultaneously, the same bill introduces a new subsidy of 4 billion CFA francs to support the price of imported flour. Gabon does not produce wheat, relying entirely on imports for its flour supply. This budgetary decision raises questions about the country's stated goal of reducing food dependency and developing national agriculture, especially given that the agricultural sector employs a significant portion of the active population outside major cities and is crucial for food self-sufficiency. The PLFR 2026 also includes a new 2.3 billion CFA franc subsidy for industrial fishing, distinct from the artisanal and subsistence fishing practiced by coastal communities. Critics argue that the bill implicitly prioritizes imports over domestic production, contradicting the government's long-standing strategic priority of agricultural diversification and food sovereignty.
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