A dike constructed on a cultivated field. © GIZ ProSol / cordons pierreux

Improving soil and agricultural productivity in Burkina Faso

Soil Protection and Rehabilitation of Degraded Soil for Food Security (ProSoil)

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  • Client

    German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)

  • Co-financier

    European Union (EU)

  • Country
  • Political sponsors

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  • Runtime

    2015 to 2026

  • Products and expertise

    Rural development

: A map of Africa highlighting Burkina Faso’s provinces of Houet and Tuy as well as the city of Ouagadougou in green, indicating where the project works.
GIZ/Jörg Böthling

Context

Agriculture in Burkina Faso employs about 86 per cent of the active population, offering significant potential for economic development and poverty reduction in rural areas. However, the industry faces rapid degradation of natural resources, in particular soil. This poses a daily challenge for Burkina Faso, especially in the Hauts-Bassins region.

The combined effects of human activities, such as deforestation, overgrazing, and improper agricultural practices, along with the harmful effects of climate change, severely compromise agricultural, livestock, and forestry production. The Hauts-Bassins region, where staple crops like maize and niébé are produced, plays a crucial role in ensuring food security and reducing poverty by improving soil health.

Objective

Soil quality in Burkina Faso’s Hauts-Bassins region is being improved to secure long-term food security for the local population.

A dike constructed in a field with trees in the background.© GIZ/Jörg Böthling

Approach

The project collaborates with its Burkinabé partners, the Directorate for Agro-pastoral Developments and the Development of Irrigation (DGAADI) and the Directorate for land tenure rights and rural areas (DGFOMR) to achieve its objectives through five main areas of action:

  1. Integration of agroecological measures into farming systems and communal planning: The project promotes water and soil conservation, soil fertility improvement, and agroforestry within farming systems and communal planning.
  2. Empowering local land authorities: The project enhances the governance and management skills of local land authorities.
  3. Enhancing the political and institutional basis: The project improves the framework for protecting and rehabilitating soil and rural land in Burkina Faso.
  4. Improving processing and marketing: The project boosts the processing and marketing of agroecological products and promotes employment opportunities in agriculture.
  5. Facilitating the sharing of experiences and knowledge: The project encourages the exchange of experiences and knowledge between local and national actors to foster collaboration and innovation.

Last update: October 2024

Additional information