The administration is receiving five million dollars (3.16 million euros) of assistance from the World Bank for the emergency operation, prompted by drought and failing harvests that have left farmers in dire need.

A three-day general strike was held in the poverty-stricken country this month against inflation as protesters took to the streets to protest the rising cost of living.

Government officials began distributing seeds, including such staples cowpea and sorghum, in two suburbs of the capital Ouagadougou eventually targeting 302 local communes.

"The seeds are being distributed among stricken producers, that is to say, those who have lost everything in the last year because of poor rainfall, and don't have any resources to purchase seed for the new season starting now," said Etienne Kabore, head of arable production at the agriculture ministry.

Ishac Diwan, the World Bank's director of operations for Burkina Faso, said: "Burkina Faso has been hit by two blows causing a great deal of harm.

"There were bad harvests and right after that the price of cereals and seeds rose both because of the bad harvest and soaring world prices."

"We realised we had to help the worst off, otherwise they'd have to waste years getting back on their feet," said the World Bank official.

In September the bank will also release five million dollars to help finance school meals and 10 million towards infant nutrition, he said.

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