How farmers can adapt to climate change in Burkina Faso

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Hello and welcome to your farming program. Today, we will talk about climate change, which is affecting and will continue to affect the livelihoods of people in Burkina Faso. Then, we will analyze the main recommended adaptation strategies for farmers.

Yes, a German organization called the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research conducted some scientific research that asked two questions: First, how is the climate in Burkina Faso likely to change over the next decades? And second, how can farmers change their farming practices to best adapt to the new weather patterns while at the same time ensuring they have enough food and income to support their families?

It seems to me that Burkina Faso’s climate has already changed.

Yes. Burkina Faso’s climate has changed, and this is reflected in the country’s rainfall and temperature. Between 1988 and 2006, the average annual temperature of Burkina Faso increased by 0.27°C. The country also experienced decades of drought in the 1970s and 1980s.

Did the scientists from the Potsdam Institute predict how the climate will change in Burkina Faso by 2050 and beyond?

Average daily temperatures are expected to increase by between 0.9°C and 1.3°C by 2050. There could be about 308 very hot days and 270 hot nights every year between now and the end of the century. Extreme rainfall could increase by 2050 and beyond.

This looks like a grim picture for the rural world which is the bedrock of the country’s economy. How will this affect agricultural production?

According to scientific modelling, crops such as millet, sorghum, and maize will be more resilient to the new weather conditions than cowpeas. Sorghum yields will decrease or be stable, while the areas which are suitable for growing sorghum are expected to largely stay the same. Suitable areas for millet and maize production will also be fairly stable, though maize production will move towards the south. However, according to the scientists, the areas suitable for cowpea cultivation will decrease in the future. Cowpeas will be unable to withstand the rise in temperature, especially when grown alone, without intercrops.

Are there ways that farmers can adapt to these new conditions?

Yes. The Potsdam Research Institute identified four main strategies for coping with the shocks of climate change. The first is integrated soil fertility management, also known as ISFM. In ISFM, different techniques are used to improve the productivity of degraded soils, maximize water capture, and reduce runoff and soil erosion. The second and third strategies are irrigation and improved seeds. And finally, climate information services can help farmers make informed decisions that minimize the impact of climate risks. These measures will increase the resilience of the agricultural sector, and smallholder farmers in particular, to climate change. We’ll talk more about that in the second part of our program.

You talk about these four strategies without mentioning the impact of climate change on livestock. What are the implications for this sector and how can it adapt?

Burkinabe livestock production accounts for about 13% of national GDP. But already, climate change is impacting livestock production. Grazing areas are shrinking and no longer produce enough fodder, and the quality of fodder is also decreasing. Unfortunately, the availability of suitable grazing land is predicted to continue to decrease across the country. Herders will find it increasingly difficult to feed their animals. Nomadic herders will have to constantly move their herds across the country to search for feed and water. In addition, cattle tracks will be taken over by farming land.So there may be continued conflicts with settled farmers.

How can herders cope?

Mowing grasslands appears to be a promising strategy for adapting to the impacts of climate change. Grasslands are mowed and cut grass is stored. This can improve the quality, quantity, and availability of fodder during the dry season, and increase the productivity of livestock production, as well as reduce the risk of bush fires. Scientists and producers have identified the two best dates of the year for mowing: August 1 and October 1. Mowing on these dates has been found to be give the best yields of fodder.

Listeners, we have come to the end of the first part of our farming program on how farmers can adapt to climate change. We have heard how Burkina Faso’s climate has changed and will continue to change through temperature increases and heavier rainfall.

Mindful of the changing climate, the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research has recommended the four adaptation strategies that we briefly discussed. We will learn more about them after this short break.

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Welcome back to this program about how farmers in Burkina Faso can best adapt to climate change. One of the most promising adaptation strategies is integrated soil fertility management, or ISFM. What is ISFM?

ISFM is a set of techniques that maximize rainwater capture and reduce runoff and soil erosion. ISFM improves soil and crop productivity by using organic fertilizers and inputs combined with local knowledge.

In terms of practices, ISFM includes zaï, half-moons, stone barriers, filter bunds, grass strips, and mulching. Can you define these adaptation techniques for our listeners?

With pleasure! In the national Mooré language, zaï means “to prepare in advance.” It involves digging small holes in degraded land at the beginning of the rainy season. The holes or pits are 20 to 40 cm in diameter, 10 to 30 cm deep, and 40 to 150 cm apart. Zaï can increase sorghum yields by up to 600% in all regions of Burkina Faso, and particularly in the north.

Half-moons are dug holes, measuring about two metres in diameter and 15 to 20 cm deep. Each half-moon is placed about eight metres from the next. The objective of both techniques is to collect or pool rainwater to help rehabilitate severely degraded soil. Adding compost, plant residues, and manure to zaï and half-moons can enhance their performance.

Another ISFM technique for restoring soil is stone barriers.

Yes, this is an erosion control measure that involves piling stones closely together along the natural contours of the land. Stone barriers are typically 25 cm high and 35-40 centimetres wide at their base. Stone barriers, also called stone lines, reduce the flow of water runoff, improve water infiltration into the soil, and reduce erosion of topsoil by wind and water. Many farmers in Burkina Faso use a combination of zaï, stone barriers, compost, and manure on their farms to rehabilitate their land and improve yields.

Another adaptation tool is the filter dike. These are anti-erosion structures 30 to 50 cm high, built along the contours of a slope. They are about two or three times as wide as they are high, with a flat top. Farmers build filter dikes with rubble or stones of different sizes.

There are two types of filter dikes. One has a grass mat and is recommended for surfaces with high runoff. The other does not have a grass mat and is recommended for flat land without gullies. Filter dikes are used especially in the Sahel, North, Center, and Central Plateau regions, to reduce erosion of farmland.

We also mentioned grass strips. What are they?

They are vegetative covers established across the slope at least five to 20 metres wide, and they’re planted either along waterways or in open fields. Grass strips help control stream bank erosion when all activities near the stream are either prohibited or monitored. They are also a refuge area for insects, birds, and animals. Bees and other insects in grass strips produce pollen and increase the yields of surrounding crops.

What about mulching?

Mulching is a technique that involves covering the soil around crops with mulch. It can be practiced anywhere. Mulching and grass strips have many advantages. They regenerate the soil and help stop soil water from evaporating.

ISFM provides farmers with a low-cost method of capturing rainwater while restoring degraded land.

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A third effective method for adapting to climate change is irrigation. Please describe irrigation.

Irrigation is the process of distributing water over crops or the soil to enhance plant growth. There are three types of irrigation: surface irrigation, in which water is spread over the soil; sprinkler irrigation, in which water is projected under pressure; and drip irrigation, in which water is conveyed directly to the plant.

Irrigated areas are generally small, less than two hectares. In most cases, farmers use a treadle pump to convey water to the crops, though in some cases, they use motor pumps, hand pumps, or simple watering cans. Only a few farmers can afford technically sophisticated irrigation equipment.

Some farmers with more resources use small reservoirs. How would you describe these?

Small reservoirs are surrounded by a dam that is typically less than 10 metres high. In the southwestern part of the country, more than half of these ponds store water all year round. In the north, it is less than a third. With these ponds, farmers can cope with water stress during the rainy season, and can even grow vegetables in the dry season. According to some farmers, maize yields have increased by 1,489 kg per hectare thanks to irrigation. And this trend may continue up to 2050.

But there are some challenges with irrigation. Overuse of water through irrigation can deplete surface and ground water. Using fertilizers or agrochemicals can result in their accumulation in reservoirs. Demand for water can be a source of conflict. Finally, irrigation with stagnant water can contribute to the development of water-related diseases such as cholera, diarrhea, or schistosomiasis.

Another challenge associated with irrigation is that some vulnerable people have poorer access because of their gender, marital status, age, or health. Women are usually discriminated against. For example, women often have only buckets and jerry cans while men use hoses and motor pumps.

Listeners, do you have any questions about climate change and how farmers can adapt to it? We would love to hear from you. Call us or send us a message to (INSERT RADIO STATION CONTACT INFORMATION HERE). If we don’t have immediate answers, we’ll find an expert who does.

Stay with us. We’ll be back in a moment to talk about improved seeds as a means of adapting to climate change.

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We are back for the final part of our farming program. Improved seeds were also identified as a key adaptation practice, although only 10% of farmers in Burkina Faso currently plant them.

Improved seeds are new varieties of plant species. They typically produce higher yields and have better quality or stronger resistance to pests and diseases. Some can even grow and mature more quickly. For example, an improved seed may have a 45-day cycle compared to 120 days for the original. The improved sorghum variety Fadda can boost yields by 380 kg per hectare, which is an increase of almost 150%.

Given their high yields, why don’t more producers use improved seeds?

One of the challenges is the constant fluctuation in seed prices every year. This makes the producer dependent on the seed market. Also, some imported varieties are not adapted to the country’s climatic conditions. Sometimes, their taste is not appreciated by consumers. Improved varieties may be unavailable or not affordable for many farmers. They may not match farmers’ preferences and farmers may lack knowledge of the potential of improved seeds.

How can we increase farmers’ adoption of improved varieties?

We need to increase communication efforts that tell farmers how improved seeds can combat food insecurity because of their high yields, and withstand drought and pest attacks. Improved seeds can also reduce malnutrition because they contain higher levels of nutrients. Finally, we need to tell producers of the increased income available through improved seeds.

You also mentioned climate information services as a way for farmers to adapt to climate change.

That’s right! Climate information services communicate accessible, reliable, and relevant climate and weather information, including forecasts on the amount and distribution of rainfall predicted. Climate information services help inform farmers of the right date to prepare land and which particular crop variety to plant. Producers say they benefit greatly from this.

Indeed, cowpea farmers in Burkina Faso who accessed seasonal and daily weather forecasts yielded 847 kg/ha compared to 685 kg/ha for farmers who did not have such access. Maize farmers with access to weather forecasts increased their yield by 84 kg per hectare in the first year, and 87 kg in the second year. And this upward trend could continue over the next 30 years in Burkina Faso. This shows the importance of climate information services.

Yet few farmers have access to official seasonal forecasts before the agricultural season. Nearly 90% of the population is illiterate and relies on word of mouth and cell phones. Thus, it would be beneficial for the national meteorological agency of Burkina Faso to strengthen its capacities to reach all farmers with climate information services that can improve their yields and income, and help them adapt to climate change now and in the future.

Dear listeners, we have come to the end of our program. Let’s summarize what we’ve learned today.

First, we know that some areas of Burkina Faso will become more suitable for growing sorghum, millet, or maize, while other areas will become less suitable. But overall, the area of land that is suitable for growing these main crops will be relatively stable. However, the suitability of land for growing cowpeas will decrease.

Second, it will be more difficult for farmers to produce multiple crops. This limits their ability to diversify production, affecting household food security, family nutrition, and farmers’ ability to earn income.

Third, we remind listeners that, according to the scientists, the farming practices with the greatest potential for successfully adapting to climate change include integrated soil fertility management or ISFM, improved seeds, irrigation, and climate services.

Fourth, it’s important to note that there is no single adaptation strategy that works for the whole country. The suitability of different strategies depends on the local context.

Finally, it’s also important to take into account that individual farmers’ exposure to climate change and ability to cope with it will depend on characteristics such as gender, age, education, and health.

These are the conclusions of the scientists from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research. These are the expected changes to the climate and the recommended practices for farmers.

But it’s always best for farmers to talk to local and regional experts if they want to plant trees or grow irrigated crops, to change what crops they grow or to focus on protecting and enhancing the quality of their soils. The best strategies will depend on where you live and what your situation is.

Please let us know what you think about this program. Share your feedback anytime at (INSERT RADIO STATION PHONE NUMBERS HERE).

We wish you a bountiful harvest and hope that you will adopt a responsible attitude towards climate change.