Improving soil and agricultural productivity in Burkina Faso

Context

Agriculture employs about 86 per cent of Burkina Faso’s active population and holds potential for economic development and poverty reduction in rural areas. However, natural resource degradation, in particular soil, poses major challenges, especially in the Hauts-Bassins region.

 Human activities like deforestation, overgrazing, and improper agricultural practices, combined with climate change, threaten agricultural production. As a main producer of maize and niébé, the region is crucial for food security and poverty alleviation through improved soil health.

Objective

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

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) in five main areas of action. It:

1. Integrates agroecological measures into farming systems and communal planning, focusing on water and soil conservation, soil fertility improvement, and agroforestry;
2. Builds governance and management skills among local land authorities;
3. Enhances the political and institutional framework for protecting soil and rural land;
4. Promotes the processing and marketing of agroecological products while creating employment opportunities in agriculture;
5. Facilitates knowledge exchange between local and national actors to encourage collaboration and innovation.

Last update: October 2024