Notes to broadcasters
Burkina Faso is a West African country of 23 million inhabitants, 82% of whom are actively engaged in agriculture. Soil fertility is a critical issue because of its direct impact on food security and economic stability. However, many communities are taking action to address soil degradation.
In Complan, a village in the southwest of the country, a watershed management approach has been adopted. Supported by the German Agricultural Development Program (PDA/GIZ), the initiative includes techniques such as the three-stone method with revegetation, organic manure production, reforestation, and sustainable water management. Chosen for their effectiveness in restoring soil fertility and their sustainability, these practices increase ecological balance and agricultural yields.
These efforts are particularly important to the village women, who are actively involved and motivated by the need to secure food for future generations. This radio script aims to highlight the collaborative efforts of the people of Complan to improve soil fertility through practices specifically selected for their positive and sustainable impact, thus underscoring the commitment of an entire community to responsible and sustainable agricultural development.
This text gives the floor to four identified actors. It is not a literal translation of the interviewees’ words. We have modified it slightly to cover all the key information on the topic dealt with in the radio script.
To produce a similar program on soil restoration practices, you could use this script as inspiration. If you decide to present it as part of your regular program, you may choose voice actors or hosts to represent the interviewees. In this case, please inform your audience at the beginning of the program that the voices are those of actors or hosts, not those of the actual interviewees.
If you decide to use this radio script as inspiration for your own program, you could talk to farmers and experts and ask them the following questions:
- What has caused soil degradation in your region?
- Which of the adaptation measures described in this text can you implement? Why or why not?
- What is the impact of implementing the practices described in the text in your community?
Length of program, including intro and extro: 25 to 30 minutes.
Script
RISING SIGNATURE TUNE, THEN FADE OUT
HOST :
We’re in Complan, one of the 22 villages in the urban commune of Dano, located in the southwest of Burkina Faso, 270 km (two-hundred seventy) from Ouagadougou, the capital. Complan means “white water” in the local Dagara language. The first inhabitants of the village noticed that the water was white, like the color of the soil. The village is a vast plain that has been severely eroded by the water. Many farmers have abandoned their fields because of this advanced degradation.
In recent years, however, farmers have reclaimed their degraded fields using a variety of methods, including the “three-stone revegetation” method. They have also invested in organic fertilizer production and reforestation with the help of various partners, including the German Agricultural Development Program (PDA/GIZ).
For the show, we have four guests on the set: Bienvenue Somda, president of the production group of his village, Yiza SOMÉ and Winchou DABIRÉ, both farmers who participated in the soil restoration, and PODA Novant, PDA coordinator. Welcome to your program.
RISING SIGNATURE TUNE, THEN FADE OUT
HOST :
We start with Bienvenue Somda, president of the village working group for soil restoration. Bienvenue Somda, tell us about the state of degradation of your environment?
BIENVENUE SOMDA :
Our soils were severely degraded because we didn’t practice crop rotation. What’s more, many of us have overused herbicides, some of which, unfortunately, are not registered. Government authorities rightly say that about 70% of the pesticides used are unregistered. Many people abandoned their fields and migrated to neighboring countries. In the last ten years, however, the village has been restoring its land through stone barriers, organic fertilization and reforestation.
HOST :
Mrs. Dabiré Winchou, as a farmer, did you readily agree to join the initiative to restore the soil?
DABIRE WINCHOU :
The whole village embraced the initiative because it was a lifesaver. The stone barriers saved our land by regenerating it and bringing smiles back to the faces of our farmers, who could now have enough to eat. For example, our field is on a slope. When it rains, all the soil is washed away. Our production was very poor. We could barely get three 100 kg bags of millet. Hunger was our ally. But since the development of the stone barriers and the use of organic fertilizer, the soil has started to recover and we can harvest six to seven 100 kg bags. So our production has doubled.
HOST :
Ms. Yiza Somé, your sister Winchou speaks with conviction about stone barriers. Can you tell us more?
SOME YIZA :
Stone barriers are anti-erosion devices made of stones placed parallel to the slope of the land. They reduce soil erosion through run-off and retain sediment to fertilize degraded soil. They are also known as three-stone structures, because of their construction with two base stones and a third arch stone. At Complan, we have added vegetation to the simple stone barriers. This consists of planting the base stones and grasses to hold them in place. We’ve noticed that the soil recovers more quickly with this method, and crop yields double. We’re also seeing the return of insects like crickets, termites and others. So the impact of reforestation is positive.
HOST :
Novant Poda, you are the coordinator of the PDA. Why did you choose stone barriers with vegetation for the village of Complan?
NOVANT PODA :
The topographical survey of the Complan soil showed that the land was sometimes sharply sloped, making it prone to erosion. The soil was severely degraded. We felt that the stone barriers were necessary to reduce the flow of water. We follow the contour line across the slopes of the land from the ridge to the impluvium, which is supposed to be the basin. Revegetation improves rock fixation and sediment retention.
HOST :
Stone barriers are anti-erosion devices made up of blocks of stone arranged in one or more rows along contour lines or around a field. Somda Bienvenue, as the person who coordinated the installation of these stone barriers, what are the steps involved in setting up this device?
SOMDA BIENVENUE :
There are three main stages before, during, and after the laying of the stone barriers. Before laying them, we draw the line of the curve parallel to the direction of the water flow, following the topographical survey. The farmers participate in this work to transfer their skills. Next, the growers plant two stakes fifteen to twenty centimeters (15-20 cm) wide on the line. Every three to four meters (3-4 m), they place two more stakes to maintain the distance. Finally, the working group assigned to the section scrapes the ground and digs furrows thirty to forty centimeters (30-40 cm) deep and fifteen to twenty centimeters wide.
HOST :
Thank you for your clarification. I’m sorry to interrupt you to give the floor to Ms. Dabiré Winchou, who also took part in the whole process. Dabiré Winchou, what do you remember about the laying of the stone fence?
DABIRE WINCHOU :
During the installation, two large stones are first placed at the bottom of the hole dug on the curve line. These form the base, while the third forms the arch. Hence the name “three stones”. Then the sides are covered with soil to strengthen the structure. I’d like to make one point clear. When we approach a hollow or valley that may have a high runoff rate, we make a more elaborate construction of the fence, which can be one to two meters wide depending on the speed of the water passing through it. This technique prevents flooding and retains water longer in certain areas. This gives the impression of a gallery forest. In these places, we’ve noticed that the water table has been replenished. The proof is that when a hydraulic pump is placed in these areas, it has a high flow rate.
HOST :
We’re happy to see the ecosystem recovering. We learned how the Complan farmers lay their stone barriers. Now, Somé Yiza, can you explain how the vegetation is planted?
SOME YIZA :
Revegetating rocky outcrops involves planting grass at their base. Its role is to further consolidate the stone barriers by stopping sedimentation. We have also noticed the rapid return of termites and other insects with the planting of vegetation.
HOST :
What kind of grass did you use to plant the stone barriers ?
SOME YIZA :
They are fixing and resistant grasses found in the natural environment, such as Barbon (
Andropogon gayanus). We prefer to use local perennial grasses. Sometimes we also plant jatropha, which acts as a kind of windbreak.
Moderator :
Bienvenue Somda, what materials do we need to build the stone barriers?
BIENVENUE SOMDA :
Individual equipment such as pickaxes and gas picks are required. With this equipment, each member of the working group performs his or her task. On the other hand, collective equipment is also needed, including a roll of rope for tracing, stakes, a water level, and a cart and dump trucks for transporting the stones.
HOST :
Bienvenue Somda, you’re talking about working groups. Can you tell us how you set them up?
SOMDA BIENVENUE :
The physically fit villagers have formed working groups of ten to fifteen people – this is the working group. Each work group has a certain distance of stone barriers to lay. They are made up of men, women and young people.
HOST :
Mr. Novant, how did you motivate people to join the groups, given the time and physical effort required to build the stone barriers?
NOVANT PODA :
First, there was an awareness of the need to restore the land. Second, we paid the work groups a small fee based on the length and complexity of the work they did. It’s not a salary, just a small compensation of twenty-seven thousand five hundred francs (27,500 Cfa francs, $46.60 US). The program also takes care of the transportation of the debris with dump trucks along the entire curve.
HOST :
Dabiré Winchou, you have benefited from this financial aid, how did you receive it?
DABIRE WINCHOU :
It allowed me to meet my immediate needs and those of my husband. I was able to buy a bicycle for my son, who had to attend high school far from the village. I also feel that I’m being more useful to my community by helping to reduce soil degradation.
HOST :
Somé Yiza, your sister says she feels more useful after helping to reduce soil degradation. How do your actions affect your production or the environment?
SOME YIZA :
In our productions, the plants grow more robustly due to the humus retained by the support strings, resulting in larger and larger ears of grain. We eat our fill. As for the environment, grasses are growing on land that was once bare. Around the rocky stone barriers, the shrub vegetation is becoming denser and denser. In general, our young people are less likely to explore new opportunities
HOST :
Thank you, guests and listeners, for joining us. We’ll now take a short break.
RISING SIGNATURE TUNE, THEN FADE OUT
HOST :
After the development of stone barriers to fertilize and reduce soil erosion, let’s explore the production of organic fertilizer, another technique used by the people of Complan to increase their yields. Mr. Somda Bienvenue, what technique do you use to produce your organic fertilizer?
SOMDA BIENVENUE :
We mainly use two techniques to produce composted manure: pit compost and heap compost. For pit composting, we have two main phases with several sub-phases: the construction phase and the maintenance phase. In the construction phase, we have digging, building or reinforcing the walls, and filling.
HOST :
What does the construction phase actually involve?
SOMDA BIENVENUE :
A three-square-meter pit, 1 to 1.30 meters deep, should be dug on hard ground (cuirass) close to where animals are kept and more than twenty meters (20 m) from concessions and wells to avoid issues.
Next comes the construction stage. This consists of building the pit with cement blocks, wild stones, or cut stones from ground level to the top of the pit, and creating a small rim around the pit of at least fifty centimeters (50 cm). Plaster must be applied to consolidate the walls.
And finally, filling. This involves filling the pit with deposited animal droppings, straw and anything else that can decompose.
HOST :
Dabiré Winchou, how is the pit maintained?
DABIRE WINCHOU :
From time to time you turn the dung with a fork or a shovel to speed up the decomposition. Then water it and turn it again after a few days if it’s dry or compacted. Normally, the farmer has his composted manure after a month, and starts the process all over again.
:
Dabiré Winchou, thank you for this description. Somda Bienvenue, what about the pile compost?
NOVANT PODA :
For the pile compost, it’s the same process. Instead of digging a pit, the farmer marks out the location of the pile on the ground, which is about six to nine square meters, depending on how much waste the farmer can gather and move to the site. He or she plants stakes eighty centimeters to one meter high (80 cm – 1 m). Gradually, he or she accumulates waste in the space thus defined. When the quantity is sufficient to produce a first cycle of manure, he or she covers the whole area with a tarpaulin. Then, from time to time, he or she watered and turned the soil every two weeks.
HOST :
The village of Complan produces organic manure in pits and heaps. Somé Yiza, what are the advantages and limitations of these two techniques?
SOME YIZA :
Both techniques have their advantages. But heaps can be made on the edge of the field with crop residues and freshly cut grass. As for the pit, the farmer slowly fills it with household waste. The main limitation of both techniques is the unavailability of water for irrigation. What’s more, the manure has to be transported from the pit to the field.
HOST :
Novant Poda, why did you choose these two techniques of organic fertilizer production for the village of Complan?
PODA NOVANT:
These two production methods address the need to reduce production costs. Input costs are high for the average farmer. In addition, the production of organic manure helps reduce the amount of waste in the environment. In short, these are green production techniques that do not use chemicals, are accessible to the average farmer, and can be reused even after the program ends.
RISING SIGNATURE TUNE, THEN FADE OUT
HOST :
The combination of stone barriers and organic manure help to restore degraded land in an ecological way and improve yields. In addition, Complan farmers have benefited from another technique: reforestation of their fields and uncultivated areas in the bush. “Somda Bienvenue, what is it about exactly?
SOMDA BIENVENUE :
This involves planting as many high-fertily trees as possible in fields and bushes, such as moringa, néré or baobab,
acacia nilotica and
senégalensis, to support the restoration effort. It’s a green ecological solution without side effects because these plants are not invasive.
HOST :
Dabiré Winchou, what do you remember about this experience?
DABIRE WINCHO :
At first, I thought it was a crazy idea to plant wild trees. For me, these trees should grow naturally. I also had a lot of prejudices, because traditionally, our parents told us that if you plant a baobab tree, for example, you can’t pick its leaves because you will die first. But I found out that this isn’t true. Thanks to reforestation, the bush is greening up and the ecosystem is recovering. We even collect leaves and bark for traditional treatments.
HOST :
Novant Poda, what role has the Agricultural Development Program played in this reforestation?
NOVANT PODA :
The program provided some plants that were purchased from nurseries. Others were harvested in the bush.
HOST :
Somé Yiza, what are the benefits of soil restoration in your village?
SOME YIZA :
With the addition of organic manure, the plants can withstand water stress because the moisture stays under the plants. They are very green, and the ears are larger. Our family is saving money by reducing the cost of chemical inputs since we’ve been using organic manure. The trees planted in our field have enriched the soil, making it more fertile. The leaves are also used to make spices. As a result, we have been able to purchase equipment such as carts, kitchen utensils and clothing for the children.
HOST :
Bienvenue Somda, families say they have benefited from these soil restoration practices. What about biodiversity in the local environment?
SOMDA BIENVEUE :
The benefits of the various soil restoration projects at Complan can be seen in the biodiversity of the soil. Before, the soil was dry and bare, producing almost nothing. Today, we have reclaimed abandoned fields. Flora and fauna are abundant. We’ve also observed a recharging of the water table, as our wells are not as deep as they used to be. We’ve even learned other soil-building techniques, such as scarifying, which involves stirring up the soil to make it looser, and chiseling, which involves removing a certain number of branches from a tree to encourage the growth of others. To limit the impact of human and animal activity, we also set aside an area to become a village forest. Today, we are proud to see the benefits of this restoration
HOST :
It’s encouraging to see farmers committed to finding local solutions to their problems. After their enthusiasm for stone barriers, organic manure, and reforestation, Complan’s farmers are still developing other initiatives to cope with climate change.
We’ll end the discussion here. Thank you for listening. To my guests, thank you for being here. We’re going to leave on this cheerful note that celebrates the work of farmers.
Goodbye. And I’ll be back for the next programme.
Acknowledgements
Interviews :
Bienvenue SOMDA, president of the village production group in charge of supervising the laying of stone barriers and the production of organic manure. Interview conducted on May 21, 2024.
Yiza SOMÉ, producer who participated in the development of the land. Interview conducted on May 21, 2024.
Winchou DABIRÉ, producer involved in soil restoration. Interview conducted on May 21, 2024.
Novant PODA, PDA coordinator. Interview conducted on May 29, 2024.
Resources consulted :
- Journal Fasonet.net du 27/11/2021 Atelier national pour l’adoption d’une stratégie de lutte
against the use of pesticides: https://lefaso.net/spip.php?article109396
