Determinants of Agroecological Practices Adoption in the Sudano-Sahelian Zone

Abstract

Under the combined effect of both climatic and anthropogenic factors, agroecosystems and especially arable soils undergo a worrying and fast degradation in the Sudano-Sahelian zone of Western Africa threatening its socio-economic development. Food systems need to be better managed to be more resilient, to increase agricultural production, while conserving natural resources and biodiversity. Agroecological practices alternatively with traditional cultural techniques have been locally experimented to cope with local pedoclimatic constraints such as weak (low) soil fertility and climate change, increasing food demand and economic conditions. Our work aims at by taking stock of agroecological knowledge as well as the determinants of their adoption with small-scale farmers in Eastern Burkina Faso. A survey (48 farmers) was conducted in Sampieri (Kantchari district), and Logit model was used to determine equations for agroecological practices adoption. Results show that traditional production practices for millet-bean cultural systems are gradually being replaced by those of agroecological. In fact, 60.4% of producers have participated in at least one agroecological training session and 60.8% of producers are interested at least in one agroecological topic. The most adopted and practiced techniques were superficial plowing, stone-rows, zai and compost, single or in combination (60% of the producers). Determinants of these practices adoption were the increased crop yields, improved of producers’ incomes, the provision or otherwise of material and human resources and training. Additionally, variables such as training, possession of agricultural equipment were positively correlated to the adoption of agroecological practices while illiteracy impacts negatively and significantly this adoption. Moreover, agroecological practices had a significant effect on grain and straw yields of sorghum, thus confirming producers’ claims about the improvements in production observed following the adoption of these practices.