Mobilizing farmers to stop land degradation: A different discourse from Burundi

Abstract

Stopping land degradation is one of the biggest challenges worldwide and particularly in Burundi, with its unprecedented rates of soil loss and growing food insecurity. This article proposes a different discourse on how to engage people in stopping land degradation, and presents results and lessons learned from a bottom-up inclusive approach implemented since 2014 in Burundi: the integrated farm planning (PIP) approach. The PIP approach aims to build a solid foundation for sustainable change toward enhanced food production and good land stewardship, based on three foundation principles (motivation, stewardship, and resilience) and three guiding principles (empowerment, integration, and collaboration). This article is based on two studies undertaken in 2018: an impact study among 202 households and a qualitative study using the most significant change methodology with 30 households. Findings from both studies provide initial support that the PIP approach generates considerable changes at household, farm, and village level. Based on a vision and a plan for their farm, motivated PIP households are currently investing in the resilience of their farms and applying a diversity of conservation practices, while in all PIP villages concrete collective action is undertaken for sustainable land stewardship. Given its rapid upscaling in Burundi and the potential of the PIP approach to mobilize farmers for motivated action, the article concludes with a reflection on the core elements of a different discourse to stop land degradation.

Building Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience through Soil Organic Carbon Restoration in Sub-Saharan Rural Communities: Challenges and Opportunities

“…Fundamental to this project, and elsewhere, is a participatory approach to developing sustainable land use programmes, aimed at empowering communities to build resilience to soil erosion challenges from the bottom-up, in a system that, whilst receiving external support, ultimately becomes self-sustaining. Kessler et al [89] describe the importance of building resilience-based stewardship at the village level, underpinned by motivation and stewardship principles, which are both closely linked with awareness of the natural environment, and people-land-resource connectivity [10]. Kessler et al [89] make a distinction between extrinsic motivation, relating to externally derived incentives, and intrinsic motivation, which is a self-driven appreciation for natural systems.…”

“…Kessler et al [89] describe the importance of building resilience-based stewardship at the village level, underpinned by motivation and stewardship principles, which are both closely linked with awareness of the natural environment, and people-land-resource connectivity [10]. Kessler et al [89] make a distinction between extrinsic motivation, relating to externally derived incentives, and intrinsic motivation, which is a self-driven appreciation for natural systems. Whilst extrinsic motivation can play an important role in the protection of soil resources (e.g., Kelly et al [15]), the Jali Ardhi project also aims to build intrinsic motivation by reducing awareness barriers and highlighting landscape-people connections at the village-scale.…”

“…Identification of transboundary connections also offers an opportunity for practitioners to explore the development of payment for ecosystem services (PES) approaches to SLM [17,90,91]. Aerial outputs can provide an important platform for community-based resource mapping exercises and a catalyst for wider debate on community decision making, which are important components in participatory SLM programmes [20,46,89]. Other examples draw on GIS for effective targeting of mitigation practice by considering hydrological pathways and soil type in conjunction with planning for water storage zones [92].…”

Guest editorial—Policies and practices in action to address soil erosion: A special issue from the Global Symposium on Soil Erosion 2019

“…At the local scale Kessler et al (2020) working in Burundi and Blake et al (2021) in neighbouring Tanzania, describe 'bottom-up' approaches with projects based on participatory and holistic actions to foster actions to mitigate soil erosion. Kessler et al (2020) describe use of an integrated farm planning (PIP, "Plan Integré du Paysan") approach, a bottom-up, and inclusive approach that aims to empower communities to develop strategies to face land degradation. Kessler et al (2020) provide an example of a hands-on interaction with the local farmers using a farmer-drawn plan of the environment that captures the key features before and after implementation of SSM practices.…”

“…Kessler et al (2020) describe use of an integrated farm planning (PIP, “Plan Integré du Paysan”) approach, a bottom‐up, and inclusive approach that aims to empower communities to develop strategies to face land degradation. Kessler et al (2020) provide an example of a hands‐on interaction with the local farmers using a farmer‐drawn plan of the environment that captures the key features before and after implementation of SSM practices. They use methods that are simple and easy for farmers to adopt and share among themselves, to potentially provide a catalyst to ongoing spread of the improved practices once outside intervention ceases.…”