Socio-economic indigenous drivers of soils and water conservation practices use to cope with climate change in the region of Plateau Central in Burkina Faso

Abstract

Continuous soil degradation and recurrent droughts caused by climate change are challenging agricultural production in the Central Plateau region of Burkina Faso. Some management techniques were developed and disseminated to farmers, in order to reduce the effects of drought and restore degraded soils. However, the adoption rate of these techniques is still low. The present study aimed at identifying and analysing the indigenous determinants of the adoption of zaï and stone rows techniques by farmers. Zaï is a small planting pit of about 20–30 cm in width, 10–20 cm deep, and filled with organic matter (manure, compost or dry biomass). Stone row is an anti-erosive device built of blocks of rubble assembled by a series of two to three. Data were collected through a survey carried out on 135 heads of households in four municipalities in the provinces of Kourwéogo and Oubritenga. A binary logistic regression model was used to analyse the factors determining the adoption of zaï and stone rows practices. The results showed that the level of education, membership to a local organization and cattle ownership positively influenced the adoption of zaï. In addition, membership to a local organization positively affected the adoption of stone rows. In contrast, the practice of small trading negatively affected the adoption of zaï. Therefore, it is essential for institutions, policymakers and NGOs to consider these factors in order to make their interventions more efficient in a global change context.